Politics & Government

PECO Agrees To Explore Cause Of Sinkhole

On Thursday at 7 a.m., PECO will perform an excavation of the sinkhole, which is located on Penn Street just near State Street.

PECO has agreed to perform an excavation to determine the cause of a sinkhole that was recently discovered on Penn Street just east of South State Street.

Newtown Borough Council President Julia Woldorf said officials had a "very good" meeting with several representatives from PECO on Monday.  At the meeting, PECO agreed to do an excavation to determine if they are responsible for the sinkhole, which is located near the utility's electrical and gas lines.

Officials estimate that the sinkhole is about three feet deep and two and a half feet long.

Find out what's happening in Newtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The excavation will be performed this Thursday at 7 a.m. The portion of the road where the sinkhole is located will be blocked off to traffic. PECO has "pushed this project up to the top of the list,” Woldorf said.

The borough engineer, Maryellen Saylor, will be present for the excavation, Woldorf said. The water company and sewer authority will also be present.

Find out what's happening in Newtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Borough Council unanimously agreed to waive the fee for the road opening permit that PECO needs to perform the excavation. The fee is approximately $300, Woldorf said. However, borough officials said if it is determined PECO lines are the cause of the sinkhole, the utility will be responsible to pay for repairs and professional services.

Woldorf said the borough has notified PennDOT because the sinkhole may extend under State Street, which is a state road.

The sinkhole was discovered about two weeks ago. Saylor told the Borough Council at a meeting last week that the sinkhole could become a threat to public safety if not dealt with.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here