City workers examine 10-foot long sinkhole in downtown Toledo

One direction of a block of Washington Street was expected to be closed for several days after a sinkhole that a city spokesman said formed during a recent water main break opened up Tuesday morning.

The hole, roughly 10 feet long at the street’s surface, straddled Washington’s two westbound lanes between Summit and St. Clair streets. A left-turn lane on eastbound Washington approaching Summit also was closed.

Rachel Hart, a city spokesman, said a water main broke nearby over the weekend and was repaired Monday. The Division of Sewer and Drainage Services determined Tuesday that a sewer had not been damaged, and expected to backfill the hole Wednesday.

“It will be at least a few more days” before the street is repaired and reopened, she said.

The closest alternative routes are Monroe Street or Lafayette Street. An eastbound left-turn lane approaching Summit also was closed.