Sinkhole Shuts Down Part of Second Street in Albuquerque

Crews work to repair aging sewer line installed in 1966 as officials say detours will remain in place for several weeks.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:50am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a massive sinkhole opening up in the middle of a desolate, fog-shrouded street, with crumbling buildings and infrastructure surrounding the natural disaster.A sinkhole's sudden appearance on a quiet Albuquerque street exposes the fragility of the city's aging underground infrastructure.Albuquerque Today

A massive sinkhole has shut down a stretch of Second Street near Barelas Railroad Park in Albuquerque, forcing drivers to detour to Broadway while repairs are underway. Officials with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority say the issue is tied to aging infrastructure beneath the roadway, as the sewer line running through the area was installed in 1966.

Why it matters

Aging infrastructure and sewer line failures are an ongoing challenge for many cities, leading to costly repairs and disruptions to traffic and daily life. This incident highlights the need for continued investment in upgrading and replacing outdated underground systems to prevent future sinkholes and service disruptions.

The details

The sinkhole is the result of a failure in the sewer line running beneath Second Street, which was installed in 1966. Over time, sewer gas has deteriorated the concrete pipe, causing it to thin and eventually collapse under the weight of the earth above it. Crews are now working to install fiberglass pipes as part of the repair, but the work is expected to take several weeks due to materials and shipping issues.

  • The sewer line was installed in 1966.
  • The sinkhole formed and shut down Second Street on April 16, 2026.

The players

Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

The local utility responsible for water and sewer infrastructure in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

David Morris

A spokesperson for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.

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What they’re saying

“A system of this size and with portions of it being as old as they are, we do expect to see a certain number of failures every year.”

— David Morris, Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

“Older sewer lines are usually made out of concrete, and over time, the sewer gas that runs through the pipe will rise and begin to eat away at the top of the sewer line.”

— David Morris, Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

“Because of materials and shipping issues, it's going to take several weeks before we can actually get it finished.”

— David Morris, Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority

What’s next

The utility authority says Broadway is a recommended detour while the closure on Second Street remains in place for the several weeks it will take to complete the repairs.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in maintaining and upgrading aging underground infrastructure, which can lead to costly and disruptive failures if not properly addressed. It underscores the need for continued investment in water and sewer system upgrades to prevent future service disruptions.