Things are looking better for residents of Harrisburg’s North Fourth Street. They could be returning home as early as Monday night, having been displaced for nearly a week by utility disruptions caused by three sinkholes.
Deteriorating infrastructure in the 2100 block of North Fourth Street has wreaked havoc on the neighborhood. After two sinkholes opened up last Monday, disrupting water and gas service to the homes, the city asked some 29 families to relocate.
Gas service was the first to be restored. The repair of water lines came to a temporary halt mid-week when a 33-ton excavator opened up a third, larger sinkhole.
Repairs were completed on that over the weekend. The sinkholes were filled in.
"Based on DEP standards we have to test the water in the line to make sure there are no bacteria,” explained Mayor Thompson. “Our Public Works Department tested the water over the weekend. I suspect they made the calls to DEP this morning waiting for final approval to let the water go to the homes."
The century old water lines were laid along the east side of the street with the water on top of the sewer. Both have been temporarily repaired.
Monday, crews were digging the trench for the permanent water line on the opposite side of the street. Once completed, they'll remove the original water line, put down new sewer line and remove the old.
City council members are also becoming involved. A January 14 public hearing has been set to determine the seriousness of the city's infrastructure problems and the price to fix it.
Deteriorating infrastructure in the 2100 block of North Fourth Street has wreaked havoc on the neighborhood. After two sinkholes opened up last Monday, disrupting water and gas service to the homes, the city asked some 29 families to relocate.
Gas service was the first to be restored. The repair of water lines came to a temporary halt mid-week when a 33-ton excavator opened up a third, larger sinkhole.
Repairs were completed on that over the weekend. The sinkholes were filled in.
"Based on DEP standards we have to test the water in the line to make sure there are no bacteria,” explained Mayor Thompson. “Our Public Works Department tested the water over the weekend. I suspect they made the calls to DEP this morning waiting for final approval to let the water go to the homes."
The century old water lines were laid along the east side of the street with the water on top of the sewer. Both have been temporarily repaired.
Monday, crews were digging the trench for the permanent water line on the opposite side of the street. Once completed, they'll remove the original water line, put down new sewer line and remove the old.
City council members are also becoming involved. A January 14 public hearing has been set to determine the seriousness of the city's infrastructure problems and the price to fix it.