PORT TOWNSEND, Wash. — A sinkhole in front of the Port Townsend ferry terminal has closed some lanes to traffic, according to city officials.
A sewer line collapsed right beneath State Route 20/Sims Way near the Port Townsend/Coupeville ferry terminal on Saturday night, the City of Port Townsend posted on Facebook.
Traffic for people both entering and exiting the ferry is down to one lane in either direction while repairs are underway.
Crews were able to stabilize the sewer leak and contain all the sewage from the collapsed pipe to prevent any pollution to surface water, according to the city. Crews worked around the clock to address the initial sewer collapse and will need to continue working over the next week to make a permanent fix.
City Manager John Mauro says the line blew a second time after initial repairs were made. Things were looking grim, but crews worked for 24 hours straight over their holiday to make the best of a bad situation.
This is the second time this same line has failed in less than two years.
City leaders planned to replace the 60-year-old sewer line in November through loans and a grant. But now the situation has been declared an "emergency" -- allowing the replacement to be done sooner and possibly even cheaper.
"Honestly, what it allows us to do is get working on it really fast and probably circumvent some process and some price tag later in the game and could save ratepayers some money," Mauro said.
People are asked to use caution when approaching the ferry terminal and give themselves extra time to board.
The city aims to complete the repairs before Port Townsend's popular Wooden Boat Festival begins on Friday.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.