A trailer being pulled by a truck fell into a sinkhole on June 10 in Madera, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP photo

The Madera City Council on Wednesday awarded an $8.32 million contract for sewer repairs on Avenue 13 after a failure this week that made the rounds on social media.

A sinkhole opened Monday in the area of Avenue 13 and Road 25, with pictures going viral online of a big rig carrying fertilizer that got caught in a hole in the road. Madera declared a state of emergency and asked residents to limit flows into the sewer system.

City workers and contractor set up a bypass pumping operation and stabilized the collapsed roadway. On Wednesday, the Madera City Council approved the emergency repairs without a bidding process.

As the sewer problems have been known for some time, councilmembers also approved an $8.32 million contract with Rocklin-based SAK Construction for a “Avenue 13 Sewer Interceptor Rehabilitation.” The advertisement for bids went out April 17 and four bids were received on May 22.

The total project budget is $10,82 million. A construction timeline is not known.