Potential sinkhole grows to 30 feet wide in New Port Richey

NEW PORT RICHEY — A potential sinkhole is growing near Little Road as Pasco County officials warn residents to avoid the area.

The county was first made aware of the sinkhole on Monday, said county spokeswoman Tambrey Laine. It had grown to 30-feet wide and nine feet deep by Wednesday, she said.

It is growing in the back of Varsity Club sports bar at 3523 Little Road, just north of the Walmart Supercenter at the intersection of State Road 54 and Little Road.

The hole is currently deemed a depression until geologists make an official designation. It led to the closure of the sports bar and Spring Haven Boulevard. The hole has reached the edge of the roadway.

“In the interest of public safety, the depression will be fenced off later today, and we’d ask that people please avoid the area,” Laine said in an email.

Officials plan to fence off the hole on Wednesday, she said.

The depression is on private property, Laine said, and two separate private owners have hired engineering firms to manage it.

As of Wednesday, there were no other roads or businesses threatened with closure because of the hole.