Northwood Avenue Closed Again Due to Another Sinkhole

Northwood Avenue between Van Buren and Tatamy roads in Palmer Township has been again closed to traffic after more sinkholes have developed in the immediate vicinity where the Easton Suburban Water Authority is performing work, PennDOT said today.

Traffic is being detoured on Tatamy Road, Park Avenue, PA Rte. 248 and Van Buren Road.

PennDOT estimates the roadway stretch will remain closed for three to four days.

This is the second time in two months the roads has been closed due to sinkhole damage.

Update: PennDOT has announced Northwood Avenue has been reopened, as of Friday, May 24, at around 2 p.m.

Updated on Friday, May 24, at 4:52 p.m.

Palmer Township Road Closed for Sinkhole Repair

Northwood Avenue between Van Buren and Tatamy roads is closed due to sinkholes that opened up earlier today near where the local water authority is performing work to repair a broken water main, PennDOT has announced in a press release.

The road will be closed for three to four days, the state agency estimated, adding that motorists should allow for extra travel time when driving in the immediate area.

Traffic is being detoured on Tatamy Road, Park Avenue, Route 248 and Van Buren Road.

City, State Make Some Progress in Clearing Roads

The damage left in the wake of "superstorm Sandy is extensive. While crews have been working diligently to clear downed trees and power lines, there are still many roads that are unpassable.

One issue that is slowing the process is wires caught in downed trees. In these cases, for the sake of safety, utility crews must be on the scene before highway workers can begin to clear them.

Obviously, because the storm's damage is so widespread, this is taking some time.

Here are updated lists of roads that are closed in both the City of Easton and PennDOT-serviced roads in the Easton area. We will update both as we have more information, so be sure to stop back for the latest.

Closed Streets in the City of Easton

Some or most of the streets in the City of Easton listed below as being closed are probably now open as of noon on Monday, Nov. 4, but the city has yet to release an updated list. More as we have it.

Downtown

• Washington St between S. 5th St. and S. Union St.
• S. Delaware Dr. between Third and Nesquehoning streets
• N. Delaware Dr. between Bushkill Street and Park Avenue

Downtown update, 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1: Most of Downtown never lost power, but the residents of Rosewood Court, the Harlan and Walter houses and the Northampton County Courthouse complex do not have power.

A snapped pole on Washington Street is to blame, said Mayor Sal Panto, adding that when that is fixed, electricity will be restored.

The city has not yet gotten an estimate of when that will happen; however, MetEd has repeatedly stated that the City of Easton should be mostly restored by the weekend, with the remainder of customers getting power back by Monday, Nov. 5.

The Harlan and Walter houses are currently running back-up generators to provide some heat to the residents. The Northampton County Courthouse remains closed, but tonight's county council meeting will still take place.

West Ward

• Maple Street between Washington and Lehigh Street
• Elder Street between Vine and Wood Avenue
• 9th & Jackson St. - Intersection
• N 14th St. between Northampton and Liberty Street

Southside

• St. Joseph St between Folk and Charles St.
• Folk Street between Nesquehoning and Cooper Street
• W. Kleinhans St. between Folk and St. John St.
• Williams St. between Philadelphia Rd. and Seitz St.
• Wilkes-Barre Street between Valley and Center Street

Southside update, 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1: Most of these streets have been cleared or will be by tonight, but there is not yet an official list.

A MetEd crew working on Folk Street between Nesquehoning and Cooper streets indicated they may have that problem solved by about 7 p.m. this evening. If they are successful, about 900 more Southside residents will see their power restored this evening.

According to Mayor Sal Panto, that will mean the majority of Southside will again have power.

Panto's own residence is currently dark too, he mentioned, but he's not sure his house will be included in tonight's hoped-for restoration of service.

College Hill

• Lafayette St. between Coleman and Hamilton St.
• McCartney St. between Pierce and Burke St.
• Pierce St between Reeder and Brodhead St.
• Burke St. between Reeder and Brodhead St.
• Taylor Ave. between Park and Mixsell St.
• College Ave. between McCartney St. and Clinton Terr.
• Cattell St. between Clinton Terr. And College Ave.
• Clinton Terr. Between Reeder and Porter Street
• Parsons Street between Reeder and Porter Street
• Brodhead Street between Burke and Pierce
• Pierce between Paxinosa and Brodhead Street
• Lafayette Street from Mixsell to Lafayette Street
• North of Lafayette Street is generally impassable
• Lafayette Street from Park to Rte 611

College Hill update, 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1: Most of these streets have been cleared, but there is not yet an official list. Lafayette Street west of Hamilton was still closed and impassable late afternoon, and some streets near the EFD substation were also not quite finished, though one public works crew member said he thought they might be done by later today.

For those that do not yet have power on College Hill, it may still be another day or two; city officials said that most downed trees had entangled wires and that finally getting the trees cleared required MetEd assistance.

Now that is accomplished, the majority of the remaining work is utility-related, which should begin to happen on Friday, they added.

Closed PennDOT Roads in Northampton County

• Durham Road between County Line Road and Stouts Valley Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed tree in wires; Now open

• Hexenkopf Road between Buttermilk and Morgan Hill roads in Williams Township is closed due to a downed tree in utility wires;

• Raubsville Road between Kressman Road and Royal Manor Road in Williams Township is closed due to downed utilities;

• Jacobsburg Road between Belfast Road and Sexton Road in Bushkill Township is closed due to downed utility wires; Now open

• Jacobsburg Road between Henry and Belfast roads in Bushkill Township is close due to a downed tree in utility wires;

• Cherryville Road between Thirty Second Street and Springhill Road in Allen Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• PA 987 between Monocacy Avenue in Chapman Borough and Valley View Drive in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility;
• Moser Road between Scenic Drive and Delps Road in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• PA 611 between Browns Drive in Williams Township and Cedarville Road in the City of Easton is closed due to a(nother) downed trees and utility; Now open

• PA 611 between Washington Street and Smith Avenue in Easton City is closed due to a downed tree; Now open

• PA 611 between Royal Manor Road and Mill Street in Williams Township is closed due to downed tree in utility wires; Now open

• PA 611 between Taylor Avenue in the City of Easton and Frost Hollow Road in Forks Township is closed due to downed trees and utility wires; Now open

• Island Park Road between Berger Hill Road in Glendon Borough and Tumble Creek Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• Stones Crossing Road between Nicholas Street and William Penn Highway in Palmer Township due to a downed utility; Now open

• Morgan Hill Road between Morvale Road and Cedarville Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• Tatamy/Uhler Road between Short Road in Forks Township and Richmond Aston Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township is closed due to downed trees in utility lines; Now open

• PA 611 between Stone Church Drive and Evergreen Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• Cider Press/Tumble Creek Road between Gaffney Hill and Texas roads in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility  Reported cleared and now open.

• Freemansburg Avenue between Dunkle and Leeman streets in Palmer Township is restricted due to a downed tree and utility;

• High Street between Broad and Main streets in Nazareth Borough is closed due to a downed tree in wires. Now open

• Greenpond Road between Bethman Road in Bethlehem Township and Northampton Street in Palmer Township is closed due to a downed tree in utility wires;

• Newburg Road/Main Street between Northwood Avenue and Fischer Road in Lower Nazareth Township is closed due to downed utility wires in trees;

• PA 191 between Lake Minsi Drive and Fox Gap Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• PA 191 between Kesslerville and Pen Argyl roads in Plainfiled Township is closed due to a downed utility;
Now open

• PA 248 between Creek Road in Lehigh Township and Cottonwood Road in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• South Main Street between True Blue and Flicksville roads in Washington Township is closed due to a downed tree and utility; Now open

• Flint Hill Road between Waldheim Road and the Bucks County Line in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to a downed tree; Now open

• Seidersville Road between the Lehigh County Line and PA 378 in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to downed utility lines; Now open

• Seidersville/Hickory Hill Road between PA 378 and Bingen Road in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to downed utility lines;

• Center Street between Dewberry Avenue and Macada Road in the City of Bethlehem is closed due to a downed utility line;

• Main Street between Poplar and Broad streets in Bath Borough is closed due to downed utility wires. Now open

• Yost Road between Delaware Avenue in Chapman Borough and English Road in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• Bushkill Drive between Church and West End roads in Moore Township is closed due to a downed tree in utility wires;

• Walnut Drive between Lehigh Drive and Elm Road in Lehigh Township is closed due to a downed tree in wires; Now open

• Kreidersville Road/Main Street/Walnut Drive between Lehigh Drive and Elm Road/Walnut Drive in Lehigh Township is closed due to downed utility wires in trees

Last updated on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 2:21 p.m.
18

Numerous Roads Closed Due to Downed Trees, Wires

Update: Click here for the new list of closed roads. (This list is no longer current.)

In Easton, city officials have released the following list of road closures:

• Washington Street between South Fifth Street and South  Union Street
• South Delaware Driive between Third Street and the city line
• North Delaware Drive between Bushkill Street and the city line
• St. Joseph Street between Folk and Charles streets
• 300 block of Folk Street
• West Kleinhans Street between Folk and St. John streets
• Williams Street between Philadelphia Road and Seitz Street
• 300 block of Wirebach Street
• Ninth and Jackson streets
• North Ninth Street between Spring Garden Street and Wood Avenue
• North 14th Street between Northampton and Liberty streets
• Lafayette Street between Coleman and Hamilton streets
• McCartney Street between Pierce and Burke streets
• Pierce Street between Reeder and Brodhead streets
• Burke Street between Reeder and Brodhead streets
• Taylor Avenue between Park and Mixsell streets
• College Avenue between McCartney Street and College Avenue
• Cattell Street between Clinton Terrace .and College Avenue

"All residents are encouraged to stay off the roadways until the roads can be cleared from the effects of Hurricane Sandy," said Easton Fire Department Chief John Bast via email.

Mayor Sal Panto has announced  at about 5 p.m. Wednesday that many of these city streets are now open. We'll be updating the above list with specifics as soon as more information is available.

PennDOT has announced the following state roads are closed due to downed trees and utility wires blocking roadways in Northampton County:

• US 22 east between PA 33 and 13th Street exits in the Easton area is closed due to a downed utility;

• US 22 west between 13th Street and PA 33 exits is closed due to downed utility;
Route 22 in both directions is now reopened, PennDOT reports.

• PA 611 between Taylor Avenue in the City of Easton and Frost Hollow Road in Forks Township is closed due to downed trees and utility wires;

• Durham Road between County Line Road and Stouts Valley Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed tree in wires;

• PA 611 between Browns Drive in Williams Township and Cedarville Road in the City of Easton is closed due to a downed trees and utility;

• PA 611 between Royal Manor Road and Mill Street in Williams Township is closed due to downed tree in utility wires;

• Island Park Road between Berger Road and Park Place in Williams Township is closed due to a downed tree;

• Island Park Road between Berger Hill Road in Glendon Borough and Tumble Creek Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• Hexenkopf Road between Buttermilk and Morgan Hill roads in Williams Township is closed due to a downed tree in utility wires;

• Morgan Hill Road between Morvale Road and Cedarville Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Raubsville Road between Kressman Road and Royal Manor Road in Williams Township is closed due to downed utilities;

• Tatamy/Uhler Road between Short Road in Forks Township and Richmond Aston Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township is closed due to downed trees in utility lines;

• Cider Press/Tumble Creek Road between Gaffney Hill and Texas roads in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility  Reported cleared and now open.

• Freemansburg Avenue between Dunkle and Leeman streets in Palmer Township is restricted due to a downed tree and utility;

• Greenpond Road between Bethman Road in Bethlehem Township and Northampton Street in Palmer Township is closed due to a downed tree in utility wires;

• Newburg Road/Main Street between Northwood Avenue and Fischer Road in Lower Nazareth Township is closed due to downed utility wires in trees;

• PA 191 between Lake Minsi Drive and Fox Gap Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 191 between Books Hill and Kesslersville roads in Plainfield Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• PA 191 between Shooktown Road in Washington Township and Lake Minsi Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 191 between Gap View and Kesslersville roads is closed in Plainfield Township due to a downed utility pole;  Actually now reopened, says PennDOT

• PA 248 between Dannersville Road in Moore Township and Grouse Drive in East Allen Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open.

• PA 248 between Creek Road in Lehigh Township and Cottonwood Road in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 512 north between Bushkill Center Road in Bushkill Township and Jacobsburg Road in Plainfield Township is closed due to downed utility wires;

• PA 611 between Stone Church Drive and Evergreen Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 611 between Riverton Road and Orchard Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 611 between Delaware Avenue in Portland Borough and Slateford Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• PA 946 between Monocacy and Parkside drives in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• Jacobsburg Road between Sexton and Gold Mill roads in Bushkill Township is closed due to a downed tree; Now open

• Jacobsburg Road between Belfast Road and Sexton Road in Bushkill Township is closed due to downed utility wires;

• Sullivan Trail Road between Sandt and Abel Colony roads in Plainfield Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Franklin Hill Road between Miller Drive and Factoryville Road in Washington Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• South Main Street between True Blue and Flicksville roads in Washington Township is closed due to a downed tree and utility;

• Richmond Road between Park Road and Mount Bethel Highway in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Old Allentown Road between Male Street in Bushkill Township and Roosevelt Street in Wind Gap Borough is closed due to a downed tree; Now open

• Creek Road between Fox Gap Avenue in Washington Township and Lake Minsi Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to downed utility;

• Allen Drive between Sylvan Drive in East Allen Township and Mud Lane in Allen Township is closed due to a downed utility. Reported to be open now.

• Cherryville Road between Thirty Second Street and Springhill Road in Allen Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Flint Hill Road between Waldheim Road and the Bucks County Line in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to a downed tree;

• Seidersville Road between the Lehigh County Line and PA 378 in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to downed utility lines;

• Bingen Road between Black River Road and Mountain Drive in Lower Saucon Township due to a downed utility;

• Seidersville/Hickory Hill Road between PA 378 and Bingen Road in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to downed utility lines;

• Center Street between Dewberry Avenue and Macada Road in the City of Bethlehem is closed due to a downed utility line;

• Main Street between Poplar and Broad streets in Bath Borough is closed due to downed utility wires.

• PA 987 between Monocacy Avenue in Chapman Borough and Valley View Drive in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Moser Road between Scenic Drive and Delps Road in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Kreidersville Road/Main Street/Walnut Drive between Lehigh Drive and Elm Road/Walnut Drive in Lehigh Township is closed due to downed utility wires in trees.

Additionally, radio reports indicated Monday night that numerous local roads in Williams Township are unpassable, blocked by trees and downed utility wires. There is currently no list, but scanner chatter indicates crews are working to clear them as soon as possible.

Check back regularly today--this list will be updated as more information becomes available.

Is there a road you know of that people rely on to get around that is closed and likely to remain so for a while? Tell everyone in the comments, or email us.

Updated at 6: 40 a.m., 11:33 a.m., 2:47 p.m., 5:18 p.m., 6:21 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 8:13 p.m. and 11:27 p.m., and on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 12:00 p.m.,  5:10 p.m. Again on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 2:35 a.m.

New Penalties for Ignoring 'Road Closed' Signs In Effect

A new state law imposing stiff penalties on motorists who ignore “road closed” or other safety warning signs and devices is now in effect, PennDOT recently announced.

Under the law, motorists who drive around or through signs or traffic control devices closing a road or highway due to hazardous conditions will have two points added to their driving records and
be fined up to $250.

If the violation results in a need for emergency responders to be called, the fine is increased to between $250 and $500. Additionally, violators will responsible for repaying the costs of staging the
emergency response.

The law aims to increase safety for motorists and emergency responders in areas where flooding or other hazardous conditions exist, PennDOT officials say.

The new law, Act 114, was signed on July 5 by Governor Tom Corbett and went into effect on Sept. 6.

“Too often, motorists decide their immediate needs outweigh the safety warning signs, and they ignore them, which increases hazards for them and emergency responders,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch in a recent press release. “This law underscores that we take safety seriously. When motorists are confronted with emergency road closures, we urge them to use common sense and obey the signs that are placed to keep them safe.”