MORAGA (BCN) — Although it came as a relief after the state’s drought, a long period of rain last month also gave way to a damaging sinkhole in Moraga that town officials are still searching for ways to afford repairs.
Moraga’s Public Works crews determined after an extensive investigation that the sinkhole formed March 13 at Rheem Boulevard and Center Street after eight consecutive days of rain.
The findings were presented Wednesday to Moraga’s Town Council, which is still examining options for paying for the roughly $3.5 million repair job now required.
Water collected at the sinkhole location during continuous rain, and the road eventually collapsed when soil eroded around a 96-inch corrugated metal pipe and voids formed beneath the thoroughfare’s sidewalk.
Consultants hired by the town will now work finalize plans after Town Council gave them the go-ahead to replace the large metal pipe with a new reinforced concrete pipe and complete other repairs.
The project will start shortly after Town Council hears the latest recommendation on completing repairs from the consultants on June 8.
Town officials said the project is currently anticipated to take up to three months and is hoped to be completed before the rainy season begins again in mid-October.
Town officials have said the repairs come with a price tag that is “far beyond” what Moraga can afford. A letter was written late March to the governor and the state’s Office of Emergency Services requesting financial disaster assistance to help pay for it.
Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation last week declaring a state of emergency for Contra Costa County and 10 other counties related to damage from storms in March, and town officials said this allows the town to qualify for federal funds.
The town has not yet announced that any financial assistance has been received.