Water main break closes Curtin Road

Photo: Reid Fellenbaum A water main break caused significant damage to Curtin Road.

A water main break Saturday on Curtin Road just north of the Pavillion Theatre on Penn State's University Park campus has caused a sink hole to open beneath the road, which is closed to through traffic until repairs can be completed.

On Monday morning, Penn State crews will be exposing the throat of the sink hole and CMT Labs will be advising the University on how to close the opening. Stone Valley construction will be assisting Penn State crews to simultaneously begin replacement of the old section of water line between the intersection of Shortlidge and Curtin and the new bus pull off just to the west of Borland lab.

The water line break has Curtin Road closed from Shortlidge Road to the bus pull off just west of Borland Lab. Parking lots Yellow E East of Patterson Building and Yellow L at Weaver and Armsby Buildings are still open and accessible. To access these two parking areas vehicles must travel east on Curtin Road from Allen Road.

Pedestrian traffic is detoured at the intersection of Shortlidge and Curtin roads, and to the west side of Pavillion Theatre and Borland Lab.

Eastbound Loop, Link and Centre Line buses will not travel on Curtin Road between Burrowes Road and Shortlidge Road until the repairs are completed. The temporary route change will be: south on Burrowes Road to Pollock; east on Pollock Road to Bigler Road; north onto Bigler Road; and east on Curtin Road to the Commuter lots. Major stops that will continue to be affected by this change are the Pattee Library stop and the Visual Arts Building stop. This change also will close the Pattee Library stop. Riders should move to the Burrowes Road southbound stop adjacent to Rec Hall or they may walk down Fraser Road to the intersection of Pollock and Fraser Roads. The buses will make stops on Pollock Road at Pollock and Fraser and on Pollock at the HUB-Robeson Center.

CATA's Centre Line routes N, V, R, W and A will continue to run on Curtin Road between Burrowes and Allen utlilizing the Pattee Library stop. All other routes to include the Loop and Link will not use the Pattee Library or Visual Arts Building stop. These riders will be shifted to the Burrowes Road southbound stop adjacent to Rec Hall or they may walk down Fraser Road to the intersection of Pollock and Fraser Roads.

Cold weather and resulting frost penetration causes the ground to shift and put stresses on pipes. The section of pipe that broke is about 70 years old.

The water line is expected to be replaced by the end of the day Wednesday. The sinkhole and road repair work could extend through Thursday. The affected section of Curtin Road will remain completely closed for the duration of the work. Continue to check Penn State Live for updates.