Roads in Parks Township, O'Hara remain closed because of landslides

It was unknown Thursday when two roads in the Alle-Kiski Valley, closed because of landslides, will reopen.

PennDOT closed Route 66, between Jefferson Street and Penn Avenue in Parks Township on Wednesday morning and Saxonburg Boulevard south of Berryhill Road in O’Hara that night because of slides brought on by the prolonged and heavy rain.

Saxonburg Boulevard is closed between Berryhill and Brownshill roads and the Shaler line, according to O’Hara officials.

According to the township, the slide brought down trees onto power lines. PennDOT and Duquesne Light were at the scene.

As of mid-afternoon Thursday, Duquesne Light was reporting 20 customers without power in O’Hara and 12 in Fox Chapel.

The slide was reported shortly before 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, PennDOT spokesman Steve Cowan said.

“Our maintenance crews are concerned with the amount of water on the hillside and in the material,” Cowan said. “Our geotechnical staff have been alerted to review the issue. Until a determination is made on how and when to proceed, the roadway will remain closed and traffic will be detoured.”

The detour will have motorists use Middle and Harts Run roads, he said.

In Armstrong County, along Route 66, crews have been cutting trees and removing debris at the slide as quickly and safely as possible, said PennDOT spokeswoman Christina Gibbs.

The road was closed shortly after 6 p.m.

“It was a fairly large slide with quite a few trees, so it’s going to take some time to get the roadway cleared,” she said. “Our goal is to get one lane opened as soon as we are able and then continue clearing until both are clear. There is no estimated time as to when the road will be reopened at this point.”

To get around the slide, drivers should use Route 56 and the Route 56 Bypass, she said.