POTTSVILLE -- Another underground arch has collapsed in Schuylkill County. At least four arches in Pottsville have given way in the last two years. While no one has been hurt, the collapses have left gaping holes in the ground.
Pottsville's underground arches were installed more than 100 years ago. They run throughout the city, covering underground streams and supporting sewer lines. The sewer authority says it just can't predict when and where an arch will give way.
When an underground arch collapses, it leaves a hole in the ground, some of which can be at least five feet deep and several feet wide.
The latest arch collapse happened near an apartment building on Arch Street. The hole left by the collapse is located in the building's parking lot. When the ground gave way, there were no cars or people around.
"Can you imagine somebody's kids walking ahead of them, and their mother seeing them drop? Do you have any idea how that mother is going to feel? Even if it's five feet! It doesn't matter," said Brooke Clement of Pottsville.
Some people are concerned by the handful of arches that have collapsed over the past few years. With the arch system running throughout Pottsville, no one knows where someone will be standing when the next collapse happens.
"It's horrible. If they are not going to fix it, seriously, what are our tax dollars doing?" said Clement.
"They just spent $42 million in 2006. We did. We upgraded the plant and ran a lot of new sanitary lines in town. But you can't do the whole town it's not feasible," said Vincent Riotto of the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority.
The sewer authority says there is no way to predict when an old arch will give way and when another hole will pop up in Pottsville. Street officials add there are precautionary measures being taken.
"There are proactive measures that the sewer authority is taking in relation with the city, where we are replacing sections at a time," said Tom Whitaker of the Pottsville Street Department.
Work to repair the latest arch collapse is scheduled to start Thursday, weather permitting. It should take about two weeks to fix and fill the hole.