Sinkhole In Renton Near Talbot Hill Elementary School

RENTON, WA — A sinkhole that opened over the summer near Talbot Hill Elementary will cause some traffic changes this school year. The sinkhole is located along South 23rd Street.

The sinkhole is likely due to an old coal mine located in the area. The federal Office of Surface Mines will handle the fix, but the school district does not know how long the work will take.

The school itself is not in danger. When Talbot Hill was built in 1997, the school district hired a firm to check the area for vulnerabilities.

There were several coal mines operating in the Talbot Hill area around 1920, according to state Department of Natural Resources maps.

Here's what will change for parents picking up and dropping off kids:

• Parent pickup and drop-off will switch to the parking lot along the west side of the building, near the intersection of Talbot and South 23rd.
• Parents will no longer be able to park along South 23rd or drive through the area
• The parking lot along South 23rd on the north side of the building will be for buses only

The first day of school in Renton is Aug. 29.

Image courtesy Renton schools