Large sinkhole will keep I-82 lanes west of Prosser closed for another week

The eastbound lanes of Interstate 82 west of Prosser will remain closed for another week while crews work to fix a 15-foot by 30-foot sinkhole discovered Tuesday.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has hired a contractor and work will be finished in about a week, spokeswoman Summer Derrey told the Herald.

The highway is closed near Zillah because a water catch basin and culvert in the median are severely eroded and officials worried it could undermine the eastbound lanes of the highway.

Derrey said that the erosion caused water to go about 25 feet under the eastbound lanes.

Crews arrived Wednesday night and are working around the clock to install a new 125-foot culvert pipe and make all repairs, she said.

“We are relieved that we were able to respond to this quickly and hope to have the highway open in about a week,” Derrey said.

Drivers are being detoured using U.S. Highway 97 to state Highway 22 to Highway 223 and then back onto I-82 near Granger.

Another option is to take I-82 at exit 50 to Highway 22 to Highway 223 and then back on to I-82 near Granger.

State maintenance crews were alerted to the sinkhole Tuesday afternoon.

Drivers should plan for extra travel time, obey posted speed limits and be patient, said the state.