WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — 28/22 News now knows more about the second sinkhole that opened up on Monday in Wilkes-Barre, causing evacuations and a street closure.
Monday morning brought rain and another big sinkhole to Horton Street in Wilkes-Barre. Crews were called to the scene for a possible gas leak, and nearby residents were evacuated for their safety.
In the evening, the people forced to leave were allowed to return.
"They were quickly evacuated away from the area, most of them were with family and friends locally. Then, last evening, when we returned the water service, electrical service to the properties, and when the natural gas was shut off from where the gas line was broken, we allowed them to go back into their properties," said Chief Jay Delaney from the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department.
Construction continues today as crews are still working to analyze and repair the issue, but residents are starting to get fed up with the problems on their street.
"It's just an ongoing inconvenience, I mean, now this is the second part of Horton Street closed on top of the first hole already, so, it's like, when are you guys going to get this fixed?" said resident Samantha Stoffel.
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Cars trying to get to the nearby Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Hospital were detoured on Monday, but Chief Delaney says there are no issues on Tuesday.
"Traffic flow was impeded to the hospital, but late in the afternoon, we made sure Church Street was open, we made sure Roosevelt Terr was open back up, so all access to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre is fully operational today," explained Delaney.
The owner of a Horton Street business says he worries there might be more problems with the street.
"My overall concern is for the infrastructure, and that they are working at it, and I hope nothing else happens, and hopefully it doesn't rain too heavily this week," said the owner of Wet Paint Printing, Scott Paull.
While crews work to get both sinkholes fixed, residents can expect them to stay for some time.
"I want my street back. I'm used to people coming and going up and down the street, you know, and I don't even get a lot of company anymore because they don't know if my road's closed. It's just a bad street to have it on," said Stoffel.
There is no timeline for when the construction projects will be done.
