Quick Take:
The Scotts Valley City Council is considering declaring an emergency to pay for repairs to a sizable sinkhole that opened up next to Scotts Valley Drive last week.
The Scotts Valley City Council is considering declaring an emergency to pay for repairs to a sizable sinkhole that opened up next to Scotts Valley Drive last week.
Following the series of storms that closed out 2025, a sinkhole about 30 feet by 30 feet wide opened up at the intersection of Scotts Valley Drive and Granite Creek Road on Jan. 5.
The eroded embankment damaged the sidewalk, a culvert and a Caltrans electrical service cabinet that powers the traffic light near an entrance and exit ramp to Highway 17, according to an agenda report. The traffic signals at the intersections are currently running on temporary generator power, but drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians have to detour to get through or around the intersection.
The report says that the conditions pose an immediate threat to public health, safety and property, and that rapid emergency action to repair the sinkhole, replace the culvert, and rebuild the road, sidewalk and embankment is necessary. The city does not yet know the total cost of replacing the culvert, shoring up the embankment and repairing the sinkhole.
The meeting begins Friday at 9 a.m.