City of San Diego crews worked through the night to repair a sinkhole closing a popular route in or out of Pacific Beach just north of Garnet Avenue.

A 30-inch transmission water pipeline burst Monday, prompting the closure of the Interstate 5 off-ramp to Mission Bay Drive.

The break, reported before noon, created a massive sinkhole estimated at more than 30 feet in diameter on the northbound lanes of Mission Bay Drive at Damon Avenue.

As of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, crews finished repairing the water line that burst but San Diego Gas & Electric crews still have work to do on a gas line before the hole can be filled.

The southbound lane of Mission Bay Drive has reopened to traffic but northbound traffic was still affected. Officials warned commuters to avoid the area until mid-afternoon Tuesday at the earliest.



NBC 7's Robert Santos reports the latest on a sinkhole that opened up Monday afternoon due to a water main break, and how it is affecting traffic in the area.

This is the main route into the Pacific Beach community for those commuters traveling south on I-5.

The pipeline was capped at about 1:30 p.m. according to Arian Collins, Public Information Officer for the City of San Diego.

There is a gas line above the sinkhole which needs to be shut down by SDG&E before city crews can begin repairs.

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Crews worked to clear the southbound lanes of Mission Bay Drive. As of 7:40 p.m. Monday, one lane was opened for the I-5 south off-ramp, although traffic was still congested.

Several parts of the city were reporting low water pressure at the time of the repairs, Collins said, but the pressure should be returning to normal.