Landslide Shuts Down Portion of Route 65

A section of Route 65 near the Glenfield Viaduct will remain shut down for a few days as crews work to clear out rock debris that threatens to slide off a hillside.

According to Jim Struzzi, PennDOT spokesman, officials closed Route 65 in both directions as a precaution Wednesday after a slide occurred about one-quarter mile north of the I-79 Interchange in Glenfield. 

Geotechnical engineers reviewed the slide area. After crews cleaned up the spill,  the southbound lanes were later reopened, Struzzi said.

Northbound lanes remain closed. PennDOT crews were cleaning the area, but debris remained on the roadway along the northbound lanes where the slide occurred.

Struzzi said northbound Route 65 is expected to remain closed for the next few days. Struzzi said contractor crews using a crane to remove a large amount of debris that remains on the hillside above Route 65. Southbound Route 65 will remain open.

 In the meantime, I-79 south traffic is being detoured to northbound Route 51 and onto the Sewickley Bridge, which caused a bit of congestion on Wednesday. PennDOT is asking motorists to use caution and expect delays. About 14,000 vehicles use this portion of northbound Route 65 on an average day.