New Kensington sinkhole deemed 'public nuisance' now fixed

A hole in a New Kensington alley deemed a “public nuisance” by officials has been filled.

Crews spent Monday and Tuesday working to fill the hole in Moss Alley in the Parnassus section of the city.

“It was a great day,” said Vince Davis, who owns property nearby.

The hole began months ago, officials say, due to a sewage line problem that began on private property.

That situation devolved into the hole growing to about 12 by 14 feet in the alleyway, getting filled with sewer water, trash and other debris. The hole was so large the alley was impassable to traffic.

After outcry from neighbors, New Kensington officials last week declared the hole a public nuisance and began to solicit emergency bids to fix the hole.

City Clerk Dennis Scarpiniti said the hole was cleared, and filled with dirt and gravel. Crews plan to pave over it once the dust settles. He did not have a cost estimate of the project.

“Everything is copacetic,” Scarpiniti said.

Davis said he was pleased with how the project turned out.

“I’d imagine so is everyone else,” he said. “The road is being used by vehicles.”