EAST ROCHESTER, Pa -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said a sinkhole in East Rochester, Beaver County, next to Route 65 is causing some problems, and the Department of Environmental Protections wants something done about it.

The sinkhole first appeared two years ago when a collapsed drainage system caused a culvert under the road to become clogged, PennDOT said.

A restaurant that used to sit on the site was razed in January when the sinkhole forced it to close.

East Rochester and Beaver County have declared emergencies because of the sinkhole, which is estimated at 65 feet deep.

On Monday, the DEP has ordered seven property owners to repair the sinkhole. They have given the property owners 30 days to submit a plan.

The Beaver County emergency management director said he fears heavy rain could cause the sinkhole to become larger, creating a disaster.

Officials with PennDOT, which owns Route 65, said there is nothing they can do until a private underground pipe that connects to a clogged drainage system is fixed first.

Nearby resident and frequent Route 65 driver Harry Clark said he is worried about the sinkhole growing.

"It would create a lot of problems, to get around," he said.

"It would bring this part of Beaver County to a standstill," said nearby resident Jeanette Tuffie. "I suppose because everyone coming from Beaver, Rochester, Beaver Falls, they all pass through this highway going to Pittsburgh."

Local officials have been trying to find money to fix it, but first they have to examine it. They said they currently do not have the money to even do that.

The emergency management director said the town has a plan in place with local firefighters and police if there is a crisis.

---

Related Links:
More County News Get RSS Headlines | Free Desktop Alert

---