The Tijuana government has begun urgent repairs on a large sinkhole that opened along the busy Vía Rápida Oriente, in what officials described as a necessary effort to restore safety on the heavily traveled corridor.
The sinkhole, located near Simón Bolívar Boulevard on the route from El Florido toward the Zona del Río, was discovered earlier this week. City officials said the collapse stemmed from an act of vandalism in which a section of a 1.22-meter (about 4-foot) storm drain pipe was burned, triggering the roadway’s failure.
Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz announced that repair crews from the Department of Territorial and Urban Development, under the Municipal Works and Urban Infrastructure Office (DOIUM), are now on site.
According to DOIUM director Carlos Gastélum Félix, the damaged pipe runs beneath the highway’s central lane and drains into the Tijuana River.
“The damage caused the disintegration of the pipes and then the sinkhole on Vía Rápida Oriente, at the level of Simón Bolívar Boulevard, which is why the affected lane was immediately cordoned off to protect users,” he said.
To ease congestion, the city opened an additional detour Tuesday through an unpaved area near the Simón Bolívar interchange, creating a second alternate route for drivers.
The full repair timeline is still being assessed, though early estimates indicate the work may take two to three weeks. Officials plan to use fast-setting concrete to speed up the process and reopen the affected lane as soon as possible.
In the meantime, Gastélum Félix urged motorists to use Insurgentes Boulevard as an alternative, reconnecting to Vía Rápida Oriente at Simón Bolívar Boulevard or continuing to Cochimíes Avenue or Manuel J. Clouthier Boulevard.
City officials are asking drivers to expect delays and to follow posted signs and on-site personnel for the duration of the repairs.
