MAITLAND, FL — Orange County road crews and engineers have officially begun the long process of rebuilding the section of North Wymore Road that was swallowed by a large sinkhole last week. After days of testing, officials confirmed Wednesday that the ground has stabilized enough to safely start construction.
Photo Credit: City of Maitland
Sinkhole Stability Confirmed
The sinkhole, which first appeared just after midnight on Friday, May 15, eventually grew to approximately 25 feet wide, spanning both lanes of the Orange County-maintained road south of Brightwater Circle. To ensure the safety of the site, crews spent Monday and Tuesday pumping over 60,000 gallons of water into the hole to monitor drainage and soil movement.
Photo Credit: City of Maitland
Initially, the water drained quickly, indicating unstable ground. However, by Tuesday afternoon, the water level remained steady—a key indicator that the gaping area has finally stabilized. With these positive results, the reconstruction project was moved up from its original Thursday start date to early Wednesday morning.
The Reconstruction Process
Rebuilding the road will be a multi-phase engineering project expected to take several weeks. The current plan includes:
- Excavation: Pulling back existing asphalt and removing unstable soil around the sinkhole.
- Layered Compaction: Filling the hole with clay while using test bores to ensure no new underground gaps form.
- Structural Sealing: Pouring a concrete-like material to secure the cavity and safeguard against future water leakage.
- Road Restoration: Preparing a 100-foot stretch of road base before laying new asphalt.
Traffic Impacts & Detours
Wymore Road remains closed in both directions between Hope Road to the south and Oranole Road to the north. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use the following detours:
- East: Maitland Avenue
- West: Lake Destiny Road
- South: Maitland Boulevard
For future updates and official alerts, follow the City of Maitland Facebook page.
The project is being spearheaded by Orange County Public Works. Interestingly, the start of repairs coincides with National Public Works Week (May 17-23), highlighting the critical role these crews play in maintaining our local infrastructure.
Wymore Road Sinkhole Video
Wymore Road Sinkhole Map