UPDATE: Watson Boulevard back open after water main repair, sinkhole opening
The City of Warner Robins says Watson Boulevard is now completely open.
UPDATE (8/22/25): The City of Warner Robins says Watson Boulevard is now completely open.
UPDATE (8/21/25): The City of Warner Robins says water service has been fully restored following the sinkhole and major water line break on Watson Boulevard near Olympia Drive.
The city confirmed there is no need to boil water. Customers are advised to run water taps for 2-3 minutes to clear the lines. Sputtering or cloudy water is normal and temporary, according to the city.
Crews recommend starting with an outside spigot or the lowest faucet, waiting at least 30 minutes before using hot water heaters, dishwashers or washing machines, and cleaning faucet aerators if needed.
At least one eastbound lane of Watson Boulevard will remain closed until repairs are complete, with periodic full eastbound closures. During full closures, the center turn lane will be used to keep traffic moving. Motorists traveling to Robins Air Force Base are encouraged to use Russell Parkway or Green Street as alternate routes.
UPDATE (8/21/25): The City of Warner Robins said crews encountered an unexpected complication while restoring water service after discovering an unmapped section of infrastructure.
Water service was shut back off, and repairs must be completed before service can return, but impacted customers should expect water to be restored by Thursday night. Multiple crews, including Utilities, Public Works, Stormwater, and GDOT, were on site Thursday.
At least one eastbound lane of Watson Boulevard will stay closed until repairs are finished, and both eastbound lanes may close at times. During full closures, the center turn lane will be used to keep traffic moving.
The city said the water outage may affect customers along Watson Boulevard from Corder Road to Nelson Drive. Motorists traveling to Robins Air Force Base are encouraged to consider alternate routes such as Russell Parkway or Green Street.
ORIGINAL STORY (8/20/25):
WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A sinkhole caused by a broken underground water main is forcing lane closures and may impact water service along Watson Boulevard, according to the City of Warner Robins.
City crews responded late Monday afternoon to a sinkhole in one of the eastbound lanes of Watson Boulevard near Olympia Drive. Officials said the sinkhole was caused by a break in a water main located roughly 25 feet underground. The line was originally installed in the 1960s, complicating repair efforts.
Utilities, Public Works, Stormwater and Georgia Department of Transportation crews are working at the scene. One eastbound lane of Watson Boulevard will remain closed until further notice, and both eastbound lanes may be closed periodically while crews complete repairs. During a full closure, the center turn lane will be used to direct traffic through the area.
Water to the damaged main has been shut off. The city warned customers along Watson Boulevard, from Corder Road to Nelson Drive, that they may experience service disruptions. Officials said it is not yet known how long the outage will last.
Motorists traveling to Robins Air Force Base are encouraged to use alternate routes such as Russell Parkway and Green Street to avoid congestion. Other eastbound drivers should expect delays and consider detours.
