Recent flooding causes road collapse
French Creek Road is closed in West Vincent after crews found the roadway collapsing due to heavy rains.
WEST VINCENT >> The torrential rainstorm last week resulted in flooding issues, including damaging a roadway that stretches into two townships.
French Creek Road between Hallman Mill Road in East Vincent and Pughtown Road in West Vincent, was closed as of Wednesday morning until further notice because of a collapsing roadway due to being undermined by water, according to West Vincent Township officials.
Cedarville Engineering Group LLC, the West Vincent township engineer firm, along with the township road foreman completed a visual inspection on Tuesday of the French Creek Road stone culvert. The inspection resulted following the rainstorm event on Feb. 24.
Due to the deterioration of the culvert and surface depression, the engineers and foreman said in their opinion there is potential for structural failure. Based on their recommendation, West Vincent township officials said they closed the road for the safety and welfare of the public.
“We are diligently working on gathering information in order to best determine the course of action necessary to ensure the safety of this stone culvert,” said interim West Vincent Township Manager Timothea “Timi” Kirchner.
Engineers and township officials have not determined how long the roadway will be closed. Detour signs are posted for drivers to follow.
Cedarville Engineering contacted a structural engineering firm that specializes in preserving and repairing stone structures to assist the township in determining if the existing stone arch can be repaired in place or if it needs to be completely rebuilt or replaced.
The engineer also reached out to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to determine the environmental permitting requirements for repairing or replacing this structure since the watercourse spans an unnamed tributary to the French Creek. It is des-ignated a high quality water-course and the French Creek is designated an exceptional value water course, Kirchner said.
Detour signs are re-rout-ing vehicles to Hallman Mill Road to Sheeder Road to Pughtown Road and back to French Creek Road.
“Unfortunately the township discovered that the barricades used to close the road were moved,” Kirchner said.
She said the barricades were put back in place and will be replaced bymore permanent structures.
“It should be clearly understood that this emergency closure of the road was because this is an imminently dangerous situation,” Kirchner said.
She said anyone seen moving the barriers or tampering with road signs will be arrested.