A section of Canal Street that had been reduced to one lane because of water line work for the Rampart streetcar was completely closed Saturday (May 28) when a part of the street gave way after a rainstorm.

The drop in the pavement, across from the Saenger Theater, is just blocks from a sinkhole that opened near Harrah's Casino almost exactly a month ago. The depression occurred alongside two lanes that had been excavated for work beneath the street.

City authorities said excavation for the water line work had been paved over with temporary asphalt, which "lowered" after the rainstorm. Permanent paving work on that section is scheduled for early next week, officials said.

The sinking occurred in the riverbound lanes in the 1100 block of the busy thoroughfare. Traffic was being diverted beginning a little after 3 p.m.

The sinkhole, which appeared April 29, occurred over an underground tunnel that once had been designed for a never-built interstate.