Slideshow: In-N-Out's Big Hole—Make It A Large

Imagine building a bridge from opposite sides and meeting in the middle, only to find they don't match up.

Welcome to In-N-Out's world.

The Rancho Santa Margarita site for the Southern California burger chain was dealt a setback during demolition when six-foot pipes that will form the retention base for storm drain water didn't align. 

D'oh.

New pipes had to be constructed and demolition continued last week at the southeast corner of Santa Margarita Ford where Double-Double heaven awaits for a community starved for the iconic burgers.

Speaking of iconic, the restaurant's signature criss-crossing palm trees have been planted at site, which is still considered a demo site.

Work began on Sept. 4, and the big hole—about 15 feet deep—that will house the massive pipes figured to be part of the Week 3 schedule. So far, there have been a couple of bumps in the road. The pipes are a considerable bump, but the land under the asphalt that was stripped away was filled with rocks. Big rocks.

The L-shaped hole is the dominant feature on the site.

After the retention base gets settled, which will hold water that will eventually flow to the ocean, the construction phase can begin.

Recent inclement weather had little impact on the project. The restaurant still figures to be flipping burgers by the end of the year.