Residents living in the 1900 block of Arlington Avenue aren’t going to see the road opening any time soon.

The section of Arlington Avenue between Francis and Woodsdale avenues is currently closed because of two sinkholes caused by a sanitary sewer issue. The city of Toledo said that portion of the street will remain closed through April.

The city put out bids to repair the sewer and received only one quote from E.R. Zeiler Excavating Inc. for more than $21 million.

The sewer is 45 feet deep and 4 feet wide, which makes it a complicated repair, according to Rachel Hart, the city’s communications director.

The city currently has bids out for a smaller scale investigation project, which will help the city determine the most efficient way to complete the repair.

The investigation is expected to begin in late March or early April, and Ms. Hart said the city anticipates it will wrap up by the end of April, but that portion of the street will need to remain closed.

After the investigation concludes, Ms. Hart said the city will then rebid for the full sewer repair project.

“We had hoped we’d be able to complete the repairs more quickly but are doing our due diligence to ensure the work is done right and within our budget,” Ms. Hart said in a statement.

After the sanitary sewer repair, the city will begin to replace the waterline on the street. Arlington Avenue is already scheduled for a reconstruction project from South Detroit Avenue to Spencer Street. The city will remove and replace the road, drive aprons, and curbs. The city will also add bumpouts for on-street parking.

First Published March 11, 2025, 6:32 p.m.