It’s been more than a week since the large, nearly street-wide sinkhole opened up at the intersection of 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue as the result of a sewer line break. The sinkhole was not very visible on the surface but underneath the pavement it was around 400 square feet. Since last Tuesday, Water Department crews have been working to repair the street, but it may take another two to three weeks, according to PlanPhilly.com.

In the meantime, Baltimore Avenue between 42nd and 44th Streets remains closed to traffic. Buses continue to replace the Route 34 trolley on Baltimore Avenue, between 61st Street and 40th Street portal. Stay tuned for more updates.

The intersection of 43rd and Baltimore is closed due to a sinkhole (Photo West Philly Local).

UPDATE (6/5/2019): The sinkhole at 43rd and Baltimore was caused by a major sewer line break, according to SEPTA. Although the hole is only about 3 feet long on the surface, it extends approximately 20 feet across below the surface. While the Philadelphia Water Department crews are working to repair the hole (it might take a while), the Route 34 will continue to operate as a shuttle bus between 61st Street and the 40th Street Portal. Stay tuned for further announcements.

(6/4/2019, 9:53 a.m.): A large sinkhole has opened up at the intersection of 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue, right in the middle of the Route 34 trolley line. The intersection is currently closed to traffic while constructions crews are preparing to dig up the street. As of 4:50 a.m. this morning, all Route 34 trolleys are being replaced by buses:

Rte 34: Shuttle buses will operate in both directions between 40th Street Portal and 61st and Baltimore Ave due to a sinkhole. Expect delays until further notice.

— SEPTA (@SEPTA_TRL_34) June 4, 2019

This sinkhole is just the latest in a long battle between developers, builders, planners and Mill Creek. This short film from four years ago shows the history.

The Buried River from Anne Whiston Spirn on Vimeo.

The Streets Department will continue street improvement work in many parts of West Philadelphia on the week of June 3rd, including S. 45th Street between Larchwood and Market streets.

This is a reminder that the work schedule includes temporary full street closures and parking restrictions. Temporary ‘No Parking’ signs will be posted in advance of each scheduled activity. Residents are urged to move their cars from the work sites when temporary ‘No Parking’ signs are posted, so that vehicles are not towed. If your car is towed, please contact the 18th Police District to find its location.  Continue Reading

The Walnut Street ramp to I-76 East at 30th Street will close tonight at 7 p.m. for 25 days of construction, according to an announcement by PennDOT. Motorists will be redirected west on Walnut Street, left on 38th Street to University Avenue, and then south on 34th Street to access the ramp to eastbound I-76. The ramp is scheduled to reopen on Friday, June 14 (weather permitting).

The ramp repairs are part of PennDOT’s $103.6 million project to rehabilitate the Chestnut Street bridge over the Schuylkill River and seven other nearby structures, including the westbound I-76 ramp to 30th Street and the Walnut Street on-ramp to eastbound I-76 at 30th Street. The Chestnut Street bridge over the Schuylkill River is scheduled to close for approximately one year beginning in mid-June for major rehabilitation — including steel repairs, repainting and re-decking.

For more information about the project, visit chestnutstreetbridges.com.

The spring semester has come to an end at the University of Pennsylvania, and its students will be moving out from their dorms this week. Due to the move-out, the university has announced the following street closures:

Spruce Street will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles from 34th to 40th Streets, in both directions, on Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15 from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Please note that bikes will need to be walked on Spruce Street while it is closed to traffic.

Septa Routes 40 and 42 will be re-routed during the street closure (visit septa.org for information on each bus route).

The folks over at Cedar Park Neighbors are interested in how you get around. The neighborhood group’s transit committee is asking Cedar Park residents to fill out a survey (5 minutes for the short version, 10 minutes for more in-depth questions) so they can better understand transportation choices and help provide better “mobility options.”

The group defines Cedar Park as the neighborhood bounded by Larchwood Avenue on the north, 52nd Street on the west, Kingsessing Avenue and the SEPTA rail line on the south, and 46th Street on the east.