Sinkhole reopens in Lakeland neighborhood, officials say

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A massive sinkhole has reappeared in a Lakeland neighborhood, according to officials.

The sinkhole first appeared off Scott Lake Road this past June while a well was being drilled in the area.

Officials said the sinkhole formed near an underground cavern. At the time, it was 25 feet deep and 80 feet wide.

At this time, the cause of this sinkhole’s reappearance is not known. Scott Lake Road was closed but reopened around 2:30 p.m.

The sinkhole that opened Friday was estimated to be 55 feet wide and 12 feet deep.

Reports of its presence, in almost the exact same spot as in June, started coming in at 11 a.m. Friday.

Officials said the sinkhole does not threaten nearby homes.

“It seems to be maintaining its circumference right now. It doesn’t seem to be growing at any rate but if it does we will be prepared just like we did in June to notify the neighbors that are on the north side of the sinkhole,” said Ryan Taylor, the county’s deputy manager of infrastructure.

As of June, the sinkhole is located on private property. It is the owners’ responsibility to repair it.

“It’s been stable since it was repaired back in June and this is the first indication of anything that’s changed in that location,” said Taylor.

Staff from Southwest Florida Water Management District inspected the site Friday afternoon “to assess impacts to the stormwater pond and the need for additional corrective action,” a representative said.

The representative said the property owner was on site and has plans to start backfilling the sinkhole Saturday “if the sinkhole activity has stabilized.”

This is not the first time a local sinkhole reopened this year. In July, a sinkhole that once swallowed a man in 2013 reopened in Lutz for the third time in 10 years.