PennDOT is in the process of evaluating a bank on the side of Meridian Road above the railroad tracks in the Renfrew neighborhood of Penn Township that gave way in May after heavy rains. The road has been restricted to one lane since then. The debris was removed soon after the collapse. Butler Eagle file photo
The single-lane situation resulting from the hillside collapse on Meridian Road in Penn Township’s Renfrew neighborhood is not going away anytime soon.
Christina Gibbs, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation District 10, said while the process to repair the hillside and depression in the road is underway, there is no timeline on when repairs might be made.
The dip in the southbound lane of the road appeared after a heavy rain in early May, and the area was blocked off with cones, and a flashing stop sign was put in place temporarily.
Motorists going in either direction take turns passing the damaged portion of the road.
Gibbs said PennDOT’s geotechnical crew has been to the site to perform borings that will provide subsurface data.
PennDOT’s design unit recently sent letters to nearby property owners notifying them that surveyors may appear on their land.
The survey will provide the geological landscape and property lines at the area of the “slide,” Gibbs said.
Information from the survey and land borings will determine whether the road surface or hillside caused the collapse.
“Then they can figure out the best solution,” Gibbs said.
She said the design team will come up with two or three options to repair the problem, along with costs for each.
Gibbs said officials from Baltimore & Ohio Railroad obviously are concerned about the collapse due to the proximity to their tracks.
“They are keeping an eye on it from their standpoint,” Gibbs said.
She said PennDOT officials will keep railroad officials in the loop regarding work to be performed.
“We will bring them in on that,” Gibbs said.
Asked if the temporary single-lane would be safe in the winter, she said PennDOT’S maintenance crews will keep a close eye on the area.
“As long as it’s safe to get a plow through to keep that one-lane clear, it will stay open,” Gibbs said. “If it’s not safe, we will close it.”
She said Meridian Road also could be closed in the area of the slide if it becomes any worse.
Gibbs had no estimate on when work could begin to repair and open the southbound lane.
“Hopefully we can get surveyors out there soon and get the data collection piece done and figure out how to get it repaired,” she said.
Meridian Road was reduced to one lane after heavy rain in May caused the bank along the southbound lane to collapse on Friday in the Renfrew area of Penn Township. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle
