Orinda Studying Tarabrook Drive Sinkhole

On two different streets, the city of Orinda is addressing a sinkhole and a storm drain problem that cropped up during last week's wave of winter storms.

The sinkhole on Tarabrook Drive, on the hill southeast of downtown, is not as serious as the one that opened up a chasm blocking a street in neighboring Lafayette. But it is restricting traffic to one lane on Tarabrook Drive. The storm drain problem is on Lavenida Drive, southwest of Moraga Way.

On Tarabrook, "We will have a better idea of a short- or long-term solution on Thursday or Friday after the City's contractor has uncovered the storm drain," said Chuck Swanson, director of public works and engineering services for the city of Orinda.

The city has awaited the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District repairing an adjacent sanitary sewer first." Alongside the drive, the sinkhole has filled with muddy water creating a lake about the size of your average koi pond.

On Lavenida Drive, Swanson wrote in an email, "We are waiting on an estimate from the contractor for this repair. This should be a one-time fix."

Last Sunday, during the heavy rainfall, there were some temporary road closures, crews doing creek cleanups and 27 calls for public works service, Orinda City Manager Janet Keeter told the City Council this week.