Landslides shut down roads

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com
State Route 906 between Interstate 70 and Monessen is closed in both directions as the result of a landslide caused by heavy storms that brought down trees and left the busy road covered in thick, clumpy mud.
Monessen No. 1 and Hilltop fire companies and Rostraver Central Fire Department responded early Monday morning to the scene of the slide, which occurred just past the Charleroi-Monessen bridge on the Monessen/Rostraver side of the Monongahela River.
PennDOT District 12 spokeswoman Valerie Petersen said the slide occurred around 2 a.m. and that a detour has been posted.
Barricades are in place. The road will remain closed until Tuesday, weather permitting.
“It’s basically been caused by all of the rain,” Petersen said of the slide.
The region was battered over the weekend with heavy rain and high winds, according to the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh.
Rostraver police said no accidents were reported as a result of the Route 906 landslide.
Petersen, who was working from home like many of her co-workers, said PennDOT road crews are using extra caution to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
“Crews are continuing to do work deemed an emergency and are also adhering to respectful social distancing,” she said. “Crews were out clearing downed trees all night last night. They’re wearing gloves and taking all the precautions. They are wiping vehicles down when they get into them and wiping them when they get out of them.”
Route 837 landslide
PennDOT District 11 is also dealing with a landslide that occurred over the weekend on Route 837 (Duquesne Road).
That road is closed in both directions between Boswell Oil Company in Dravosburg and the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge due to a landslide the brought mud and large rocks crashing onto the busy thoroughfare that runs along the Monongahela River and connects West Mifflin, Clairton and Pleasant Hills to Dravosburg, Duquesne and the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge.
“In the interest of public safety, the department will keep the roadway closed until further notice,” District 11 spokesman Steve Cowan said.
A vehicle traveling on the road Saturday night hit a large rock and overturned as rocks were sliding from the hill, according to Duquesne Annex Volunteer Fire Company. The driver was transported via ambulance to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries, firefighters said.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts at www.twitter.com/511PAPittsburgh.
Power outages
Hundreds of power outages were reported in Mon Valley communities as a result of the storms that tore through the area over the weekend.
As of Monday evening, one to 20 customers in Webster Hollow were still without power as a result of a downed tree that caused damage to power lines and other equipment, according to West Penn Powe r.
There were also as many as 20 customers without power in West Newton as a result of a downed tree. West Penn Power said Mon Valley customers experiencing power outages were scheduled to have power restored by Monday evening.
Duquesne Light said 20 customers in Jefferson Hills were without power on Monday evening, but did not provide an update for when services would be restored.

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Courtesy of Duquesne Annex Volunteer Fire Company
A vehicle traveling on state Route 837 Saturday night hit a large rock and overturned as rocks were sliding from the hill, according to Duquesne Annex Volunteer Fire Company. The driver was transported via ambulance to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries, firefighters said. The road is closed in both directions between Boswell Oil Company in Dravosburg and the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge.