FIXING A HOLE

Crews fill in collapsed abandoned mine shaft in Washington Twp.

A Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection work crew on Monday began filling stones into a deep hole that opened up Nov. 15 at a 19th century abandoned iron ore mine along Old Route 100 in Washington Township.

DEP agents with the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, based in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, are doing the work.

Colleen Connolly, DEP spokeswoman, said a cost estimate and timeframe for completion is not yet available.

Rick Sichler, township manager, said the township is glad the work has started.

Sichler said he stopped by the site early Monday morning and noticed a lot of equipment was there.

“It’s very crowded there with the equipment,” he said. “The hole was growing.”

The hole, initially about 25 feet wide, has grown several feet wider on the side closest to Old Route 100. It is near the intersection of Barto Road.

The hole is most likely deeper than 180 feet and filled partially with water, officials said.

Sichler said thankfully there have not been any incidents with trespassers stopping to look at the hole and falling in.

The hole has been cordoned off with an orange mesh safety fence and emergency caution tape. It’s

on private property but is highly visible to motorists.

David D. Moyer, chairman of the township supervisors, said that township crews check the property daily to ensure that the fence is properly securing the hole.

He warned motorists and passersby to stay away from the hole.

“Our No. 1 priority is to protect the safety of our residents,” Moyer said.

Moyer said the last hole that opened in 2018 was about half the size.

That hole was discovered by neighbors on Sept. 8, 2018, after a heavy rain. It was filled by Oct. 31, 2018.

Sichler said in the

1800s iron mining was a thriving business in Berks, Lehigh, Chester and Lebanon counties.

The latest hole was discovered early on the morning of Nov. 15 by Eastern Berks Fire Department members.

Stormy weather may have caused the mine shaft to collapse, the township manager said.

Accuweather reported heavy rain and wind gusts as high as 63 mph in the area around that time.

BEN HASTY — MEDIANEWS GROUP A truck delivers another load of rocks while an excavator drops rocks into a hole that opened at a 19th century abandoned iron ore mine along Old Route 100 in Washington Township on Monday.

BEN HASTY — MEDIANEWS GROUP Rocks drop into the hole at a sinkhole along Old Route 100 in Washington Township Monday afternoon January 11, 2021, where a crew from the DEP was working on filling it in with rocks. The hole is above the site of a 19th century abandoned iron ore mine.

BEN HASTY — MEDIANEWS GROUP The hole is widening from erosion along Old Route 100 in Washington Township Monday afternoon January 11, 2021, where a crew from the DEP was working on filling it in with rocks. The hole is above the site of a 19th century abandoned iron ore mine.