COAL TOWNSHIP - A subsidence just off Northwestern Academy Drive leading to Northwestern Academy caused police to shut down the road Friday until the area can be thoroughly inspected and filled in by mining officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Bob Hunter, facility manager at Northwestern Academy, discovered the mine subsidence shortly before 11:30 a.m. and reported it to a dispatcher at Northumberland County Communications Center, who quickly contacted police, Northumberland County Emergency Management Agency employees and DEP officials from the Scranton office to respond to the scene.
Hunter, who placed orange cones and yellow caution tape around the area, said it was the first subsidence he could recall in the area of the academy, where he has worked since it opened 14 years ago.
The subsidence, which is located next to a small bridge approximately three-tenths of a mile from the Route 61 entrance to the academy, is about 35 feet deep and 25 feet wide. Ground underneath a section of guard rail collapsed, exposing the rail and blocking a small amount of water running off an embankment near the Reinhart FoodService Warehouse from
flowing through a culvert under the bridge.
The subsidence occurred approximately 40 yards from the intersection with Industrial Park Road, which also leads to the academy and Reinhart's warehouse.
Employees at Northwestern Academy and Reinhart FoodService will be forced to use Industrial Park Road until the subsidence is filled in and the road declared safe.
Coal Township Patrolman Chad Yoder ordered the road closed at about 11:45 a.m. due to the potential that the subsidence could get deeper and wider and force the bridge to collapse. A section of Northwestern Academy Drive appeared to slightly buckle as a few vehicles traveled on the road before it could be shut down.
Coal Township Patrolman Chris Lapotsky closed the Route 61 entrance to the road shortly before noon.
Police believe Northwestern Academy Drive could be closed for an extensive period of time due to the mine subsidence.