DPW Restores Temporary Full Access to Montebello Loop Following Successful Sinkhole Repairs
Crews to pause construction before launching lake dredging project this fall

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) has completed the multi-year Montebello Sinkhole Engineering Project, a significant effort to stabilize aging infrastructure beneath Lake Montebello. As a result, the full walking loop around the lake will reopen to the public starting Saturday, March 29, offering residents uninterrupted access throughout the spring and summer months. This temporary reopening precedes the start of another critical project this fall to support ongoing operations at the Montebello Filtration Plant.

“What began as a sinkhole roughly the size of a basketball revealed the urgent need to overhaul century-old infrastructure beneath Lake Montebello,” said DPW Director Khalil Zaied. “This spring and summer, we’re taking a short pause before beginning the next phase of work to fortify the Montebello Filtration Plant—one of the most critical assets in our water system. Our top priority is ensuring this vital infrastructure can continue to serve Baltimore for the next 100 years and beyond.”

With the Montebello Sinkhole project now complete, DPW will begin removing equipment and reopening the full walking loop around Lake Montebello on Saturday, March 29. While most of the area will be accessible, some sections will stay fenced off for safety as crews finish stabilizing the ground and allow new grass to grow. Temporary materials like silt fencing will remain in place until the grass is fully established later this summer.

"I want to thank DPW for working diligently to reopen the lake loop. I also want to thank the public for their patience during this time. I am looking forward to joining my constituents in enjoying this great gem our city has to offer. I invite everyone citywide to come and walk, run, rollerblade, cycle, and enjoy Lake Montebello," said Baltimore City Councilwoman Odette Ramos, whose district includes the lake and the Montebello Filtration Plant.

Upcoming Lake Dredging Project (Fall 2025)

In late fall 2025, DPW will begin its next major project: dredging Lake Montebello to remove built-up sediment and restore the lake to its full capacity. This work is expected to take about two years and will require a partial closure of the walking loop—similar to the closure residents experienced during the Montebello Sinkhole project. For everyone’s safety, the closed section will serve as a staging area for equipment and construction vehicles, while the rest of the loop will remain open for public use.

While many enjoy Lake Montebello for walking, running, and recreation, it’s important to remember that the lake is part of the Montebello Filtration Plant and plays a vital role in providing clean drinking water to Baltimore residents. The upcoming dredging project is a necessary step to maintain that system, ensure compliance with Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) regulations, and improve the lake’s ability to support the plant’s water filtration process.

Repairing the Montebello Sinkhole: A Historic Engineering Feat

The Montebello Sinkhole project began in November 2022 after the collapse of a large storm drain exposed critical, century-old infrastructure—including a 108-inch storm drain and an 84-inch water transmission main. To access and repair the damage, DPW crews removed the equivalent of 7,500 dump trucks of soil.

Given the scale, safety risks, and weather delays, the project presented significant challenges. To maintain service, DPW installed a temporary 48-inch bypass main, ensuring uninterrupted water delivery throughout the work.

In early 2025, DPW successfully completed the reinstallation of a new 84-inch water main—a vital piece of infrastructure that supplies drinking water to nearly 300,000 residents in eastern Baltimore City and Baltimore County.