1 year later, repairs finally underway to fix Overbeck Street collapse

For far too long, Judy Stanton and others who live in Spring Hill have had to carefully maneuver around a crumbling Overbeck Street. More than a year after the road collapsed, some of the safety barricades put up months ago have fallen over the hillside.

“It's scary,” Stanton said. “I’m afraid it’s going to all come down.”

Crews are finally starting to make repairs, but many questions about what caused the damage still remain unanswered.

Pittsburgh Councilwoman Darlene Harris, who represents the neighborhood, contends it’s the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s fault. Harris said the PWSA opened a fire hydrant to clean air out of a water line. She said they hydrant was left open for 12 hours, causing water to run over the hill and subsequently causing the road to crumble.

Officials with the PWSA disagreed and suggested the hydrant was only left open for a couple of hours. Still, the agency hired an outside engineering firm to investigate.

A report obtained by Target 11 found that the hillside was unstable since 2011, when tension cracks appeared in the road, and suggested the hydrant may have been an “exacerbating factor.”

The study indicated that PWSA’s activities did not cause the damage in question. A cost-sharing agreement for road repairs is being negotiated by the Department of Public Works and the PWSA.

A PWSA spokesperson said, “The study indicated that PWSA’s activities did not cause the damage in question. A cost-sharing agreement for road repairs is being negotiated between DPW and PWSA.”

Harris disagrees and said city taxpayers shouldn’t be stuck with the bill.

Public Works Director Mike Gable said the repairs will cost $122,000, and the city will split the cost with the PWSA.

Cox Media Group