A "significant" sinkhole has forced the closure of a key Interstate 83 off-ramp in Dauphin County, disrupting travel for commuters in and around Harrisburg.
According to CBS 21, the sinkhole opened Thursday (March 12) afternoon on the northbound exit ramp from I-83 to 13th Street (Exit 44A). The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) said the hole is too large for vehicles to pass safely.
Fritzi Schreffler, a PennDOT spokesperson, described the situation as serious. "It is a major concern because 83 is a highly traveled corridor and 13th Street is an access to various locations in the city itself and to areas like Highspire and Steelton," Schreffler told CBS 21.
Work to repair the ramp began Thursday evening, when crews poured concrete into the sinkhole. Additional prep work on the sub base was planned for Friday (March 13) morning, with asphalt trucks expected to arrive between 10 and 11 a.m.
PennDOT said it hopes to reopen Exit 44A before the afternoon rush hour on Friday (March 13). Drivers heading to 13th Street should plan for alternate routes until the ramp is back in service.
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