Sinkhole

UPPER MERION — A sinkhole that shut down a stretch of U.S. Route 202 in both directions Monday evening remained in effect throughout Tuesday, frustrating motorists and causing delays.

Transportation officials have not yet determined what caused the sinkhole to appear, but motorists were advised to follow a detour posted at Henderson Road and Saulin Boulevard.

“The first piece of advice would be to avoid the area altogether,” said PennDOT Deputy Communications Director Brad Rudolph. “If you can avoid it and not even use the detour, which is not extensive, but not made to carry (U.S. Route) 202 traffic.”

The sinkhole’s exact dimensions are unclear, but Rudolph was told “it was pretty deep” when setting the scene.

The sinkhole was first identified when PA American Water crews were assessing a six-inch water main break Monday afternoon that was impacting service for more than a dozen customers, according to Kara Rahn, PA American Water’s senior manager of government and external affairs for eastern Pennsylvania.

Customers “experiencing low water pressure” alerted the utility company to the issue around 3:30 p.m. Monday. No boil water advisory was put in effect for customers in the King of Prussia area.

“The sink hole is certainly complicating our ability to make those repairs just based on size and scope, but the determination of what caused the sinkhole has not been made by us or by PennDOT,” Rahn told MediaNews Group.

Rudolph agreed, speculating on several possibilities, but said that “we can’t tell whether it was a water main break or it was storms — lots of water under there.”

He added the “bedrock in the area is not ideal for some of the roadway,” as the “carbonate” is based with minerals such as limestone and dolomite that “can be naturally dissolved.”

“So sinkholes are fairly common in this area,” he said.

The portion of road was blocked off from traffic between 7-and-8 p.m. Monday, according to Upper Merion Township Police Chief Thomas Nolan. No injuries or fatalities were reported as a result of the sinkhole.

“Once we see a sinkhole forming we’re going to close the road. We don’t wait for PennDOT to advise,” Nolan said.

Repairs to the water main were made as of 1:28 p.m. Tuesday, according to Rahn, who said utility representatives would then prioritize “restoring impacted customers.”

The next steps involve engineers, Rahn said, who “will be assessing the necessity of what needs to be done there to make that road safe and get the sinkhole closed up.”

Rudolph said the utility company will be “doing all the work,” which involves removing the existing concrete out of the area and “get it cleaned up so they can backfill it.” Additional work will involve the installation of small stones and a “geotextile mesh fabric to stabilize things.”

After putting on a “subbase,” Rudolph said “10 inches of asphalt” will be laid in order for the road to reopen to traffic.

Upper Merion Township police officers and flaggers were on scene Tuesday directing traffic. PennDOT has also extended the timing of lights to accommodate more motorists driving through the area.

“They could possibly pave tonight with the hopes of opening sometime tomorrow,” Rudolph said on Tuesday.

However, he stressed the paving schedule will determine the estimated reopening time, which could stretch to Thursday if it cannot be accommodated. He urged drivers to exercise patience on the road.

“It’s going to take a little extra time to get through that area,” Rudolph said. “I know Saulin Boulevard has been very congested. So pay attention to police.”

“Obviously watch your speeds in that area … obviously don’t go around the closure point,” he continued. “We’re hustling as quick(ly) as we can. Hopefully we get it open tomorrow.”

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