Following the collapse of a section of Rte. 30 in East Pittsburgh, crews are continuing to remove debris caused by the ensuing landslide and aiding residents of local homes and apartment complexes displaced by the event.
The road buckled and fell more than 30 ft down a deep embankment over Electric Avenue, resulting in a torrent of mud, rock, and other debris that severed power lines and compromised natural gas lines in the immediate area.
PennDOT had been investigating instability in a 300-ft section of the road for several days, and had recently closed the road and evacuated an apartment complex directly beneath where the eventual collapse occurred. Mud and debris slid down the hill to Electric Avenue, destroying one home and threatening others. Several units in the Electric Avenue Apartments, a senior living center, were damaged and two had to be demolished.
More than 30 people were forced to leave their homes; arrangements were made to board those displaced in hotels or with nearby family members. No injuries were reported.
PennDOT is taking responsibility for the care and shelter of these residents as it continues to investigate the exact cause of the road failure. The department announced it plans to demolish properties at the bottom of the hill along Electric Avenue, clear the debris, and perform drilling tests to measure the depth of the landslide.
