A Sinkhole Develops on Texas Highway West of Los Fresnos

by Tony Vindell/LFN

A sinkhole, measuring about six feet deep and 25 feet around, developed on a shoulder of Texas Highway 100 between Expressway 77 and Los Fresnos.

The collapse of the dirt and pavement was reported shortly after 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 2.

The sunken hole happened right in the way where a gas pipeline was buried recently and a pipe that transports water from the Rio Grande to the Laguna Madre Water District treatment plant in Laguna Vista, also on Highway 100.

Workers with Valley Crossing Pipeline and Texas Department of Transportation were at the scene evaluating the situation and hauling dirt.

Valley Crossing Pipeline is working on a 168-mile project to provide natural gas transportation to Mexico to meet that country’s growing electric generation needs

Although no one was hurt, personnel with Los Fresnos Volunteer Fire Department, the water district and with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Department showed up and were at the site controlling traffic.

A section of the highway around the sinkhole caved in so one of the west bound lanes was closed to traffic.

Joel Lopez, a supervisor at the water plant, said no interruption in water services resulted because of the incident.

LMWD has 7,200 accounts in Port Isabel, South Padre Island and in the Laguna Vista/Laguna Heights area.