Local

Freeport Road landslide area to reopen, close again

TARENTUM, Pa. — State roads crews are removing debris from the Freeport Road landslide area between Riddle Run Road and the New Kensington bridge.

PennDOT plans on reopening one lane of the road late Tuesday but will close it again Tuesday night to allow another super load to be moved to the new Allegheny Ludlum mill in Brackenridge, PennDOT spokesman Jim Struzzi said.

Freeport Road in East Deer and Tarentum will be closed in both directions, weather permitting, starting at 10 p.m. through approximately 7 a.m. Wednesday. The planned closure will occur from the 9th Street/C.L. Schmitt Bridge in East Deer Township to Conroy Way in Tarentum.

The road has been closed to all traffic since 11 p.m. Monday, when officials noticed the drop zone was filled with debris and the hillside above it was becoming unstable because of the recent rain and snow.

Whether the road will reopen to normal traffic after the super load passes depends upon the stability of the hillside.

Northbound traffic will be detoured using Riddle Run Road to Butler Logan Road to Route 28 to Route 366. Southbound traffic will follow the same detour in the opposite direction.

PennDOT advises motorists to use caution, allow extra time and expect changing traffic patterns when traveling through the area. Delays should be expected.

This article was written by Channel 11’s news exchange partners at The Valley News Dispatch.