MONROEVILLE, Pa. — Work to repair a water main break is causing traffic delays on Route 22 in Monroeville.
Officials said a sinkhole opened up around 5 a.m. Monday on the eastbound side of Route 22 near the intersection with Alpine Village Drive.
Monroeville Municipal Authority Superintendent Joe Storey told Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE that the hole is a byproduct of a water main break from Saturday afternoon.
"The road was destroyed because of the water main break," Storey told TribLIVE. "Unfortunately this morning, a sinkhole opened up that we did not know was there."
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Cowan said single-lane closures would occur in both directions of Route 22 between Alpine Village Drive and Northern Pike.
Motorists who use the affected area of Route 22 were advised that a detour is in place.
“As we were coming around I-376, we saw the sign that said, ‘Consider alternative route.’ Well we are not from here, so we don't know an alternative route,” said Suzie Walls.
Walls and her husband weren’t alone in their confusion. The sinkhole was discovered without much time to warn rush-hour motorists about the lengthy detours.
Crews are working to repair the hole, and officials believe the work will last until Monday night at the earliest. The road could reopen as soon as 7 p.m.
The fix is only going to be temporary. Officials said repairing the damaged pipe is such an extensive project that they probably won't get to it until later on in the spring.
Officials said crews have re-routed the water, so no one is without water.