Sinkhole on Highway 204

Published 1:15 pm Friday, June 24, 2011

LAKE STEVENS — A sinkhole partially shut down Highway 204 before noon today and is likely to create traffic delays throughout the afternoon.

The damage near 81st Avenue SE, about midway between U.S. 2 and Highway 9, limited traffic to one lane in each direction.

“We don’t have any estimate as to when the highway will reopen completely,” said Mike Murphy, a spokesman with the state Department of Transportation.

The hole is about 3 feet by 5 feet and roughly 2 feet deep, Lake Stevens Sewer District manager Darwin Smith said. It appeared to have opened up after sand around an inactive future sewer line washed away.

Highway 204 is the most direct route to reach Lake Stevens from Everett. The sinkhole also was expected to create backups this afternoon on 20th Street, as some drivers seek alternate routes to reach Highway 9.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.