Mildred Street's sinking feeling again

AUSTIN (KXAN) - If it seems like we've been here before, that's because we have . Another crater has formed near Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Willow Street - the second in a week.

Because of the new sinkhole on Monday, city crews had to step things up a bit.

"I was taking the baby to school at 7 in the morning and I heard this hiss, and I looked up and there was this fine spray of water coming out of the ground," said Yolanda Velasquez, who lives in the southeast Austin neighborhood.

The seemingly constant construction at this three-block intersection from First Street to the north and Willow Street to the south of Cesar Chavez Boulevard is wearing on neighbors' patience.

"My daughter got up to take a shower and go to work. She had to go elsewhere to bathe," she continued.

"We're still trying to determine how it all happened," said Jason Hill of the Austin Water Department.

It was just two weeks ago when, just a block down the road, the foundation under the intersection of Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Mildred Street was washed away because of heavy rains and a leaky water main below ground. That underground flood followed Mildred Street south and is being blamed for the new hole and water main break down the street.

"This morning we had the roadway collapse and hit one of our six-inch mais, so we are still trying to determine was it the main that failed or was it the roadway that fell onto the main that broke that caused a water disruption in this particular area," Hill said.

The work's been accelerated because of the sudden hole that caved in the earth below. This time there are phone and gas lines to worry about. The city had plans all along to work on the entire stretch of road which is why part of it had been blocked off for more than a week. The city defends the strings of projects, saying it is for everyone's safety -- but the inconvenience for those who live there still lingers.

"We've had a few inconveniences. And it's been kind of hard I think on the neighborhood. Especially since my granddaughter's babysitter is a block away, but I have to go six blocks around to get to the babysitter's house." said Velasquez.

The city hopes to be finished with all of the work soon. How soon is still unknown.