$1 Million Grant To Address Sinkholes In Lansdale Borough

LANSDALE, PA — The borough is poised to get a hefty state grant to help mitigate sinkholes that have developed in recent time around the community.

The office of State Rep. Steve Malagari, D-Montgomery, announced that he has successfully secured a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to address Lansdale's sinkhole problem.

Several sinkholes have opened up around Lansdale recently, and the lawmaker says the money will both help fix existing sinkholes and work to prevent future ones from developing.

"When infrastructure issues like these arise, they must be addressed immediately, before they become bigger problems," Malagari said in a statement. "We need to fix the few sinkholes that are forming, but more importantly, address the stormwater management issues that are causing the water damage."

Several sinkholes have opened up across Lansdale recently, most notable in the area of Ridge and Oak streets, according to Malagari.

Heavy rains are believed to have exacerbated the issue, causing stormwater runoff to flow through the sinkholes as opposed to the proper sewer inlets.

Sinkholes have also been discovered in the areas of Penn Street, Cherry Street and Squirrel Lane.

The grant dollars will help offset costs relating to any repairs and/or upgrades, Malagari's office stated.

Immediate repair costs total around $1.7 million, his office said, and so the funding will help with a brunt of the upgrade costs.

Pennsylvania is often considered to have some of the worst roads in the country.

Last year, the commonwealth ranked toward the bottom in a list of road conditions across the nation.

Related: Pennsylvania Roads Among Nation's Worst: Study