Santa Fe Reopened Jaguar Drive After Sinkhole Repair
The city cleared the road Thursday night following a major water main failure that trapped a vehicle.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Car Types
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City crews reopened Jaguar Drive on Thursday night after a sinkhole formed by a broken PVC water main forced a road closure. The incident initially trapped a motorist who discovered the collapse early Thursday morning.
Why it matters
The sinkhole caused significant disruption near three major educational institutions, necessitating traffic reroutes through local neighborhoods for most of the day. A busted water main serves as the primary cause for this sudden structural failure.
Crews removed nearly 20 feet of broken PVC piping during the 14-hour repair project. The site is located in the vicinity of 3 local schools.
The players
Cesar Chavez Elementary
This educational institution is located near the site of the infrastructure collapse on Jaguar Drive.
Capital High
This local high school experienced traffic disruptions due to the emergency road closure.
Santa Fe School for the Arts and Sciences
The school is situated in the immediate vicinity of the sinkhole location.
The details
After a driver discovered the sinkhole at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday and subsequently became submerged, emergency teams successfully retrieved the car one hour later. City workers spent the remainder of the day removing the damaged piping and backfilling the road to restore passage.
Timeline
Thursday 2:30 a.m.: The sinkhole was discovered by a driver.
Thursday 3:30 a.m.: Crews retrieved the car from the sinkhole.
Thursday 3:00 p.m.: School dismissal concluded at nearby campuses.
Thursday night: Jaguar Drive officially reopened to traffic.
Friday morning: City crews are scheduled to perform final road cleanup.
Roadmap
This incident highlights the ongoing struggle municipalities face with aging underground infrastructure that can lead to sudden road failures. Replacing legacy PVC systems is part of a broader industry shift toward prioritizing preventative maintenance in residential corridors.
Drivers who frequently use Jaguar Drive can resume their normal commutes following the road reopening. Residents should be aware that final cleanup operations may cause minor lane restrictions on Friday morning.
The takeaway
Sudden road collapses often result from unseen water main degradation that can occur regardless of traffic volume. Commuters should remain observant of pavement shifts and report unusual road conditions to city officials immediately.
What happens next
Crews are scheduled to return on Friday morning to perform final road cleanup operations at the site.
Further reading
For more on how local infrastructure affects regional travel, visit the Car Types section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KRQE 13.
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