On Tuesday afternoon, an arroyo in Santa Fe County surged beyond its banks, carving a large sinkhole that caused a portion of Marquez Ville Road to collapse. The incident, which occurred around 3 p.m., left the road impassable and stranded residents and contractors alike.
Impact on local households
County officials reported that about 20 homes were directly affected by the collapse. Residents returning from work found themselves unable to reach their houses, while others, such as Richard Martinez, were trapped on the opposite side of the road and could not leave.
“And I could hear the arroyo running. So I went to look at it, and people were trying to get out, and they couldn’t,” Martinez said of the scene.
Contractors also caught in the mess
Construction crews working nearby discovered their vehicles stuck on the broken stretch of road. One contractor, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted uncertainty about the next steps: “We don’t know yet, so we’re waiting. I know something happened where they tell us.”
County response and next steps
Santa Fe County officials emphasized that their immediate concern is restoring safe access and egress for the affected residents. “Our crews called out additional staff to come out and just try to gain access to the area to identify the affected residents,” a county spokesperson said.
Because Marquez Ville Road is a private thoroughfare, the responsibility for repairing the sinkhole rests with the road’s owners rather than the county. Officials indicated they will work closely with the private road’s management and County Works to determine the appropriate remediation plan.
“So that’s something that we’ll be coordinating with County Works and seeing what the next steps are in the appropriate steps as this is all a private road,” the spokesperson added.
What residents can do
Residents who are unable to reach their homes or need assistance are encouraged to contact the Santa Fe County Emergency Management Office. The county has set up a temporary hotline to field calls and provide updates on road conditions and repair timelines.
While the sinkhole presents an immediate inconvenience, officials assure the community that safety remains the top priority and that a coordinated effort between the county and the private road’s owners will bring the road back into service as quickly as possible.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
