Residents shocked by sinkhole on northern suburbs road

Motorists and cyclist got that sinking feeling on a busy street in Thornbury when a sinkhole suddenly appeared causing traffic turmoil.

A mysterious sinkhole has emerged on Victoria Rd in Thornbury.

A dangerous sinkhole has opened up in the middle of a busy road in Melbourne’s inner north, with cyclists forced to divert traffic away from danger.

The hole formed on the morning of May 10 on Victoria Rd, Thornbury.

Local Caroline Healy said the hole was only 70cm wide at first, but appeared to be 3m to 4m deep.

“It (was) probably around 3m long, but you (could) only see a hole that’s about 70 square centimetres,’’ she said.

“Hats off to the two cyclists who were guarding it before the officials arrived, it could have been so dangerous if a bus or truck had gone over, the asphalt is quite thin above it.

The hole was cordoned off and traffic has been diverted.

Yarra Valley Water workers begin repairing the hole on Thursday, with drilling revealing a much larger hole where the cement had sunk.

One resident speculated the sinkhole could be part of a bigger issue with the road, which is near heavily used.

“There was a hole on the southbound side they filled in before the second hole opened up, I’d assume they are pretty much joined and all part of the same problem,” they said.

Darebin Council have been contacted for comment.