Sinkhole Opens Up After Massive Sewer Pipe Break in Kalamazoo Neighborhood

Kalamazoo crews repaired a sinkhole that opened up Thursday afternoon on a residential street after a broken sewer pipe dumped 6,000 gallons of material into the ground.

The sinkhole appeared near Bronson Boulevard and North Hillandale according to the City of Kalamazoo. The city said the broken sanitary sewer pipe was to blame for the sinkhole that opened up in the neighborhood.

Crews from the City of Kalamazoo responded to the sinkhole on Thursday afternoon. A broken sanitary sewer pipe was to blame for the 6,000 gallons of material that caused the sinkhole to open up near Bronson Boulevard and North Hillandale.

Crews from the City of Kalamazoo repaired a sinkhole that happened on a residential road Thursday afternoon. A broken sanitary sewer pipe was to blame for the 6,000 gallons of material that caused the sinkhole to open up near Bronson Boulevard and North Hillandale, according to the city.

The city did not provide details about the size or depth of the sinkhole. The city did not provide details about whether any homes or businesses were affected by the sinkhole or the sewer spill.

Repair Work Completed, Normal Sewer Flow Restored

The broken sewer pipe was repaired at 1:15 p.m. Thursday. Normal flow conditions in the sanitary sewer have been restored according to the city.

Water reclamation plant personnel have notified the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Great Lakes and Energy and the Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Unit of the spill as required by law.

The city said the broken pipe may have happened on Tuesday. The city did not provide a reason why the pipe broke. The city did not provide a timeline for when the pipe failure was discovered.

Sinkholes Are a Growing Concern in Kalamazoo County

This is not the first sinkhole to appear in Kalamazoo County. Recent sinkholes have appeared across the county following severe weather events.

On April 9, 2026, a sinkhole appeared in Battle Creek along Elm Street between Bennett Street and the railroad tracks. City crews from the City of Battle Creek are investigating the sinkhole that formed on April 9, 2026.