Road conditions worsen
Published: March 10, 2010
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PennDOT crews work to patch roads deteriorating under the strain of heavy truck traffic. STAFF PHOTO/ROBERT BAKER
PennDOT’s recent closure of a Bradford County road has spurred talk about the deteriorating road conditions in Susquehanna County.
Increased traffic and heavy loads on roads, like Rt. 29 in Dimock, along with the typical spring heaving have caused an increase in potholes along that stretch of road putting drivers that travel it and their vehicles in peril.
County Commissioner Leon Allen, who lives in Springville, said the heavily trafficked road is worse now than it’s ever been.
Allen said, “I don’t know if it’s the weather conditions or the heavy truck traffic or if it’s a combination.”
He said he has not spoken to PennDOT officials about the road yet but said the northbound lane is in worse condition than the southbound lane.
Allen said that the northern lane has deteriorated so much in one area drivers are forced to move into the oncoming lane to avoid the bad spot in the road.
PennDOT District IV spokesperson Karen Dussinger said the state agency is doing its best to keep up with the roads and monitor the conditions on a regular basis.
Dussinger said that when there is natural gas drilling activity in an area, PennDOT is in contact with the gas companies.
PennDOT’s Susquehanna County assistant maintenance manager Mike Dewey said they have been in touch with all the gas companies working in the area.
According to Dewey, Cabot Oil & Gas has taken responsibility for the road even though other companies and trucks are also at work in that area.
“They have been really responsive to fixing the roads,” said Dussinger, “especially this time of year.”
“We have good communication with them,” said Dussinger.
However, Dussinger said that during spring only cold patch is used to fill in the potholes and the patch jobs don’t hold for a long period of time.
Dewey said, “We’re trying to keep up with it,” and added, “We’re patching one day and it’s popping out the next.”
According to Dewey, Route 29 is just one of many roads showing signs of deterioration in the county. He said that Route 706 and Route 267 north of Lawton are also damaged.
Some side routes in the Springville area, said Dewey, are right down to mud.
Dussinger said PennDOT can provide natural gas companies with a list of state approved contractors that can handle the necessary road repairs.
