WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It's been a month since one of two giant sinkholes opened up on the same street in Wilkes-Barre. People who live there are frustrated by the inconvenience it's caused.
On Monday, they got some clarity on when their lives may return to normal.
The idea was to gather everyone involved in fixing the sinkhole, gas and water companies, the city's engineer, and the mayor, and answer questions from neighbors about their disruptive road closure.
But those residents found out on Monday the Horton Street hole won't be fixed anytime soon.
People living on Horton Street are still being affected by the sinkhole that opened up in front of their homes in June.
Mayor George Brown invited the residents to a nearby restaurant to give them updates on the reconstruction process.
"They've been really going under some tough times since June 25, when we had the sinkhole crash, so, the idea was to bring our team together, get as many people here as we can, so that they know what's going on and what the future's going to look like for them," Mayor Brown explained.
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Those in attendance were able to ask questions to the crews directly working on the projects.
Some people also expressed the ways their everyday lives are affected by this disruption.
"Parking, having direct access to my driveway to the house, we have to park around the neighborhood. It's gotten to the point now where if you get home after a certain time, you have to go around a few times," Wilkes-Barre resident Eileen Venero told 28/22 News.
Mayor Brown tells 28/22 News it could be three to four weeks to finish cleaning out the sewer line and another week to install an interior line.
"I've been the mayor six years, this is the worst I've seen it," Mayor Brown added.
Neighbors say it's a good start, but there needs to be a long-term solution, including less truck traffic on Horton Street.
"I'm just hoping they do fix it, and fix it properly. Maybe get rid of the trucks, reroute them, pave the street over. Come check out our houses and see if we need anything because of what's going on. Nobody's asked that. You take these things with a grain of salt, I'm sorry to say that, but it's true. I've been through, not this, but other things, and usually what they say is not always what they do, unfortunately. I'm hoping, I have hope," Venero continued.
The estimated timeline for the construction on Horton Street is about five to six weeks until residents can return to normalcy.
