PennDOT: Tire Hill Road, Route 53 remain closed; Menoher Boulevard open with altered traffic pattern

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Two area roads remained closed Monday, and a third was open with restricted traffic patterns, after heavy rainfall and stormwater damaged the roadways, according to PennDOT.

Sections of Tire Hill Road near Greenhouse Park and state Route 53 near Portage will continue to be closed until the state Department of Transportation can inspect and determine a plan of action.

Menoher Boulevard remains open with altered traffic patterns between Susan Drive and Barnett Street because of a landslide April 3.

The impacted area of Tire Hill Road near Greenhouse Park was slated for renovation work in June, and the repairs will be included in that project, PennDOT said. The agency said in a release that it is “currently working on a timetable for the repairs as well as detour routes.”

Route 53 near Portage will remain closed long-term. PennDOT officials “plan to visit the site this week to determine a plan and a timetable for repairs,” the release said.

Also, plans are being developed to install a concrete barrier in the closed portion of Menoher Boulevard to “protect traffic from the compromised slope.”

State crews will remove the slide material and work on slope stabilization once a plan is complete, although no timetable was provided.