Officials have reopened several roadways running through Valley Forge Park two days after a broken sewer drain spewing thousands of gallons of sewage per minute forced the closure.
Routes 252 and 23 in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, Pa. reopened around 5:30 p.m. Thursday after a break occurred in the Valley Creek Trunk Sewer Force Main Tuesday morning.
Crews finished replacing the 30-inch main shared by Tredyffrin Township, Easttown Township, East Whiteland Township, Malvern Borough and Willistown Township about 30 minutes before traffic was allowed to pass.
An investigation into the cause of the break is underway, but officials say it will take at least several weeks before they get any answers. Officials say the same main also broke six weeks ago, though they have not yet determined the cause of that break.
Park rangers and police said water from the broken sewer main pushed through Route 23 in the park around 11 a.m. Tuesday and spilled off the side of the road, forcing officials to close the following roads for the past two days:
- Route 23 eastbound from Davis Road to Rt. 252
- Route 23 westbound from N. Gulph Road to Rt. 252
- Route 252 is closed northbound from the Pa. Turnpike
- North and South Outer Line Drives
- Gulph Road is closed from Thomas Road to Rt. 23
- Yellow Springs Road is closed at the Covered Bridge
A PennDOT official told NBC10 that the broken main caused thousands of gallons of sewage per minute to leak into the Valley Creek, which feeds into the Schuylkill River. Officials say more than three million gallons of sewage may be in the creek.
Officials say the sewage leak doesn't pose a threat to humans but could be a safety concern for wildlife in the area.