Sinkholes Raise Safety Concerns in Palmer

Are you planning on driving on Northwood Avenue in Palmer Township again?

After a third sinkhole in two months opened up Thursday, some residents say they may make alternate routes permanent for their own safety.

"My husband refuses to drive down that road after the first sinkhole. He would go up to Corriere and turn down that road to get to anything over by 248," Jessica Blunt commented on the Palmer-Forks Patch.com Facebook page.

PennDOT announced Thursday that Northwood Avenue, the main connecting road between Forks Township and Palmer and Lower Nazareth townships, was closed between Van Buren and Tatamy roads for utility work.

PennDOT stated that the road is closed due to sinkholes that opened up in an area where the local water authority is performing work.

Traffic is being detoured on Tatamy Road, Park Avenue, PA 248 and Van Buren Road. Allow for extra time when driving through the area.

PennDOT estimated Northwood Avenue would be closed over the Memorial Day weekend.

But Police Chief Larry Palmer told Patch.com that the road would be reopened sometime Friday afternoon.

Still, though, fears about driving the road are escalating.

Mary Ellen Gartner Popolo "I drove down this road yesterday morning [Thursday] to go to Walmart. Only 30 mins later I was on my way home and the road was closed. Pretty scary," Mary Ellen Gartner Popolo said on the Palmer-Forks Patch.com Facebook page.

Palmer officials have said that their hands are tied. The road is maintained by the state.

Palmer Township Supervisors Chairman Dave Colver and Township Manager Christopher Christman were not available for comment Friday.

On Thursday, the front of a Lowe's delivery truck got swallowed up by the sinkhole. Chief Palmer sent Palmer-Forks Patch a photo.

Sinkholes that shut Northwood Avenue happened in early April and returned in early May. The last sinkhole opened up two weeks ago.