Photo: Marcia Straub / Moment / Getty Images
A growing sinkhole has forced the closure of Route 772 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with repairs now expected to continue until at least Friday, February 13, officials announced Thursday (February 4).
The sinkhole, which initially formed on Tuesday after a water main break, has expanded overnight to cover a large portion of the intersection with Locust Street in Talmage. Township officials had originally hoped to reopen the road this weekend, but discovered an additional water main break on Wednesday morning that caused the sinkhole to grow, requiring more extensive repairs.
"We initially had two water main breaks yesterday. Got them repaired, got the water hooked back up. Last night we had another water main break which caused more extensive damage to the already existing sinkhole that's underneath that area," West Earl Township Manager **Jenna Reigle** explained.
The closure now extends from West Main Street in Brownstown to Peace Road in Leola. Township officials made this decision due to the number of tractor-trailers that regularly use the route, as several had struggled to turn around at previous closure points. According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation data, approximately 12,000 drivers use Route 772 daily.
Engineers and contractors determined that all macadam over the sinkhole must be removed and the entire water line replaced to prevent additional breaks. Excavating crews have already dug more than 20 feet down to make repairs, with contractors from S.A. Way & Son Excavating working to fill the 80-foot sinkhole with gravel.
"They are going to replace the length of water line instead of patching it," Reigle said. "We were hoping it would be this Friday, but the sinkhole situation, there's a lot more repairs, water repairs and sinkhole repairs to take care of."
Water service has been restored to residents in the Talmage area as of Wednesday evening, but a boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice.
The West Earl Fire Station reported they have already responded to traffic crashes along the detour routes and are asking drivers, especially those operating tractor-trailers, to avoid the area if possible. Anyone crossing road closure barriers without authorization could be ticketed by West Earl Township Police.
Local resident **Andy Miller** expressed concern about the situation, saying, "This is the scary thing. I drive over this road on a regular basis. I could have been in that sinkhole."
Township officials are still working to determine the cost of repairs, which will not be covered by insurance and will impact the township's budget. "If the number that I'm thinking of now is anywhere near accurate, we are going to have to rethink some of the projects we had planned," Reigle noted.
Despite the challenges, township officials are asking for patience. "We are doing the very best we can, and moving as fast as possible to get this done," Reigle said. "Our contractor, S.A. Way & Son has been doing a great job to push this forward. There is very little down-time happening right now."