ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A landslide closed an Elizabeth Township street near Route 48 and the Boston Bridge through Monday morning.

The slide started around noon on Sunday along East Smithfield Street, and according to Allegheny County Public Works, the hill continues to slide.

Crews worked to clear the slide, and nearly one dozen trees that were knocked down by it. On Monday, the street was partially reopened, but crews want to wait until they are sure the land is done sliding before fully reopening the roadway.

"The hillside was just moving too much," said Tony Mangretta of Allegheny County Public Works. "There was a lot of cracking. You could hear the trees cracking. We basically had to just stand here and watch all the trees come down."

Along with trees, the slide brought power lines down, too, cutting service to about 60 homes and forcing two families to evacuate.

"We were worried about the utility pole, because the branches fell into that pole and into the wires, and it was tilting," said neighbor Joyce Arillotta. "That's why we weren't even allowed in our house."

Power has since been restored to the homes and most residents have been allowed back inside.

But neighbor John Jordan said the slide damaged the garage to his home, and he and his family have not been allowed to return.

"They took my power from the house," he said. "They took my meter from the house. I have no gas, no water. They shut everything down. They don't want to do nothing with the land until the garage is all completely down, then they'll start working on the land that fell. "

Jordan said the garage is damaged beyond repair. He said the township said it's the insurance company's responsibility, but the insurance company said if it's an act of nature, it's not covered.

Jordan said he believes its the responsibility of either the state or township, whosever right of way the road is.

In the meantime, the Red Cross is putting Jordan's family up in a hotel for now.

"They said we could stay there until Thursday and go from there," said Jordan.

Jordan said the township building inspector said he'll get back to him on when the family can get back in the house, but it might depend on work being done to stabilize the hillside.

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