Sinkhole threatens the stability of a retainer wall in Goleta

A sinkhole located on Cathedral Oaks Road in Goleta is sparking concerns among the City of Goleta’s Public Works Department.

The city closed Cathedral Oaks Road between Winchester Canyon Road and Calle Real to inspect the integrity of crib walls affected by the sinkhole. Crib walls are walls that hold up the road and slope.

The city received a call about a sink hole on January 19. Public works crews inspected the area and determined there was a 14 foot by 12 foot hole. After the rain storm ended, inspectors found a bulge in a portion of the retainer wall. They concluded that the wall was moved because of the recent rainstorms, the creation of the sinkhole and gopher holes in the area that moved the ground.

Access to Winchester Circle from Cathedral Oaks is only available to residents of Winchester Commons. Residents are asked to avoid the area until the detours are lifted.