Gilman Springs Road is expected to reopen by Thursday morning’s commute after repairs to a sinkhole that the California Highway Patrol said was most likely caused by burrowing squirrels.

The damage to an eastbound lane in the link between Moreno Valley and San Jacinto was reported about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, just west of Bridge Street. Gilman Springs Road was closed between Highway 60 and Highway 79.

The CHP San Gorgonio Pass office said Wednesday in a Facebook post that the contractor has completed the excavation and filled the hole with concrete. The contractor planned to repave the road and paint stripes Wednesday night. The road is scheduled to be open by 5 a.m., the CHP said.

The contractor discovered that ground squirrels had burrowed from the dirt shoulder on the north side of Gilman Springs and under the road.

“With all the winter rains, water began to flow into the squirrel den and in time, out the other side of the road. Enough dirt was eventually washed away causing a cavern to be created under the eastbound lane,” according to the CHP.

“Bad squirrel.”