More rocks fall on Route 611 as Delaware Water Gap pushes for reopening

Max Augugliaro, Pocono Record
·2 min read

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has warned of another rockfall incident on Route 611 in Delaware Water Gap.

A stretch of Route 611 from Cherry Valley Road/Oak Street in Delaware Water Gap south to Slateford Road has been closed since December 2022 due to a rock slide.

Another rockfall event happened earlier this week on Route 611 in the Borough of Delaware Water Gap, adjacent to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Sean Brown, press safety officer for PennDOT Engineering District 5, told the Pocono Record.

“This area remains a safety concern until work begins as another secondary rockfall event occurred following rainfall earlier this week,” Brown said. “The proposed scaling operations will remove the potential hazards surrounding the rockfall locations and other immediate hazards throughout the corridor.”

A sign that reads "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" points travelers to the way of a detour on Sept. 12, 2023, in Delaware Water Gap as a section of Route 611 remains closed.
A sign that reads "Road Closed to Thru Traffic" points travelers to the way of a detour on Sept. 12, 2023, in Delaware Water Gap as a section of Route 611 remains closed.

This comes amid pressure from the Borough of Delaware Water Gap to reopen Route 611.

“Our borough along with other boroughs are trying to put pressure on PennDOT and the National Park Service (NPS) to complete the work needed to re-open 611,” Delaware Water Gap Mayor Larry Freshcorn said earlier in the week.

On Wednesday, PennDOT noted that it was close to receiving the necessary documents and approvals from the National Park Service to start phase 1 work, consisting of removing loose rock throughout the project area within their right-of-way.

PennDOT also said that it submitted documentation for review/concurrence to NPS and requested an Emergency Special Use Permit to complete scaling operations within PennDOT’s right-of-way.

A rock slide on Pennsylvania Route 611, as seen on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. The slide was caused by recent heavy rain.
A rock slide on Pennsylvania Route 611, as seen on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022. The slide was caused by recent heavy rain.

“Once approval of the application is received, it will take 30 days to mobilize the specialized subcontractor to begin scaling,” Brown said on Friday, echoing a statement made on Wednesday, “The duration of emergency scaling operations is expected to be shorter than 6 months, but it is dependent on the extent of scaling required."

On Thursday, Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area spokesperson Kathleen Sandt said that NPS has finished its review of PennDOT’s Special Use Permit application and supporting documents, compiled questions and comments regarding them, and planned to return them to PennDOT by close of business.

“This project has been and remains a top priority for the NPS and we understand the impact the road closure has had on residents and local communities and continue to work with PennDOT to meet our mutual goals of safe travel on Route 611 and the protection of nationally, locally, and tribally significant resources,” Sandt said.

At the end of the scaling process, “PennDOT’s intent and goal is to open Route 611 to a single lane condition controlled with temporary traffic signals when scaling is complete,” Brown said.

Max Auguliaro is the public safety and government watchdog reporter at the Pocono Record. Reach him at MAugugliaro@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: More rocks fall as PennDOT awaits approvals for 611 work