What started as a sewer repair in a New Kensington alley has devolved into a public safety and health hazard, neighbors say.
“It’s technically not a sinkhole, but it turned into one,” said Vince Davis, who owns property nearby.
“The hole originally was like (the width of) a manhole, 13 feet deep. Now, if I measure it, it’s probably bigger — at least 12 by 14 feet (wide).”
The hole is located on Moss Alley in a residential part of New Kensington, between Fifth and Sixth streets, and Fifth and Sixth avenues.
“It’s going to get bigger if something doesn’t happen,” said Sierra Sweitzer, of Fifth Avenue.
Davis said the situation started about four months ago when a homeowner’s sewer project went awry. It’s since sat there and the hole has gotten bigger and deeper as the days go by.
While traffic cones surround the hole to keep people out, it’s still concerning to Davis, who said children and adults use the alley to play and travel. It’s eroded feet away to the corner of Davis’ property’s foundation, he said.
“It’s toxic waste. It’s sewage. It’s filled with trash,” Davis said.
“It is a public hazard, period. It’s vulgar.”
New Kensington city officials didn’t return requests for comment Wednesday.
Sweitzer is also worried about neighbor children playing in the area. She said the alley is impassable to vehicles because the hole has gotten so big.
“When I was taking out the trash, I almost fell into it — and that was three months ago when it was smaller,” she said. “It’s pretty insane.”
In fact, Sweitzer said New Kensington officials mailed letters to Fifth Avenue residents about a month ago directing them to put their trash cans on the street instead of the alley.
“It keeps getting worse,” she said. “It’s very nasty. It’s gross.”
Tasha Williams, who lives on Fifth Avenue, described the situation as “horrible.”
“Before the sinkhole, we have a rat issue in the alleyway, and with the sinkhole there, it’s a danger for these kids,” she said.
Davis believes if the hole is not fixed soon, the worst is yet to come. Sewer waste, trash and debris stew in the hole’s stagnant water.
“You won’t be able to keep you windows open. Last week, when it was in the upper 70s, it was 100% worse than what it is now,” he said.
