Burlington Crews Repair Tucker Street Sinkhole Linked to Recent Waterline Bore

A roughly 5-by-5-foot sinkhole opened on Tucker Street in Burlington along the bore path of a 12-inch water line installed a few months ago, prompting city crews to excavate and begin repairs Monday morning, according to a City of Burlington spokesperson.

The city attributed the collapse to an existing void in the ground that expanded from the boring operation for the new line, compounded by the impacts of recent severe weather. The combination of underground instability and weather stress created conditions that eventually gave way beneath the street surface.

Repair work moved more slowly than a typical excavation because a 27-inch sewer line runs directly beneath the water line. The spokesperson said the layered infrastructure means the work takes a little longer than usual, requiring crews to work carefully around the larger sewer line while addressing the collapsed area above it.

By the time the story was reported Wednesday, the sinkhole was described as fixed, with repaving already underway. Tucker Street was expected to reopen once the paving work is complete, though no specific timeline was provided.

The incident raises questions Burlington officials have not yet publicly addressed, including whether the bore contractor will face any review and whether the city plans to inspect adjacent sections of the bore path for similar subsurface voids. The 12-inch water line's installation date and the contractor who performed the bore have not been disclosed.