Minor sinkhole opens in November 2025 in Gainesville, Florida

Overview

On November 12, 2025, a small but deep sinkhole described by Alachua County Public Works as a “chimney” opened along Southwest 24th Avenue just east of the roundabout at Southwest 91st Street in Gainesville. The hole, roughly 2 feet across at the surface and extending down as much as 25 feet with wider voids beneath, prompted an immediate closure of the roadway between SW 91st Street and SW 87th Way. County crews set detours and marked the site with orange cones while safety repairs were scheduled. Officials said the formation is typical for this part of the county and that temporary measures were intended to reopen the road within a day, with permanent repairs to follow.

Key facts

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Event date: November 12, 2025.
Location: Southwest 24th Avenue, just east of the roundabout at Southwest 91st Street, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida.
Surface size: approximately 2 feet wide; subsurface voids measured up to 5 to 6 feet across in places.
Estimated depth: about 25 feet.
Traffic impact: SW 24th Avenue closed both directions between SW 91st Street and SW 87th Way; detours posted. Sidewalks remained open.
Response: Alachua County Public Works placed cones and a stake, announced safety measures, and said temporary repairs would be completed the same day or the next; permanent repairs scheduled later.

Sources: Gainesville Sun, WUFT

Detailed brief

The county termed the opening a “chimney,” a form of sinkhole that commonly appears in karst terrain where limestone dissolves beneath the surface and a vertical shaft forms. The visible aperture on SW 24th sits close to the eastbound lane, creating an immediate safety concern for motorists. When crews arrived, they left the sidewalk open and used about 10 cones and a stake to flag the hazard. By midafternoon, county crews had not yet completed repairs beyond securing the area and posting detours. Public Works Director Ramon Gavarrete said the formation is normal for the area and that the road could reopen within a day after safety work, with permanent stabilization to follow at a later date.

This incident illustrates the layered nature of sinkhole response: first, protect the public and traffic flow; second, diagnose the subsurface condition; third, schedule either short-term remediation or a more complex reconstruction. Short-term action typically includes barricading, placing fill where safe, and rerouting traffic. Longer-term solutions can involve grouting, controlled excavation, or full-depth reconstruction of the roadbed, depending on the extent of voiding. The county’s initial assessment emphasized public safety and speed of response rather than immediate permanent remediation, a reasonable choice when a roadway can be reopened quickly after temporary stabilization.

Sources: Gainesville Sun, WUFT

Context and implications

Gainesville and greater Alachua County lie within a region of Florida where karst geology produces sinkholes with some regularity. Local officials adopt playbooks for these events that balance rapid restoration of mobility with careful geotechnical assessment. That balance is visible in the county’s approach here: quick closures and detours while crews perform safety repairs intended to let traffic resume within a short window. For residents and planners, this underscores the importance of design and maintenance practices that anticipate subsurface instability, especially in areas with known limestone dissolution.

A separate Alachua County sinkhole incident later in November, in which emergency responders rescued a dog from a deep hole, shows how variable these events can be – from a shallow chimney that disrupts a lane to a larger collapse with serious rescue considerations. Collectively, these episodes highlight the need for public awareness, timely reporting of ground changes, and continued investment in geotechnical monitoring. For drivers, the practical takeaway is to heed detours and signs and to report depressions or unusual pavement behavior to local public works offices promptly.

Sources: WCJB, Gainesville Sun