Sinkholes Force Continued Highway Closures In King Of Prussia Area

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — Portions of Route 202 remain shut down in King of Prussia this week, exacerbating already worsening holiday congestion.

The sinkholes that opened up last Thurday and Friday initially shut down all lanes in both directions of 202 between Henderson Road and Saulin Boulevard. Northbound lanes were reopened over the weekend but southbound lanes remain closed.

Crews are on scene working to repair the damage, but they've been slowed by the heavy rain and flooding from the recent storm. There is no estimate on a completion date.

"U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) will remain closed until PennDOT engineers can further assess the extent of the new damage and develop a plan to fully repair and safely reopen the highway," the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said in a statement.

Meanwhile, as more and more traffic comes to the area with the peak of holiday season shopping and dining, the roadway that already saw tens of thousands of vehicles per day is now funnelling motorists onto side roads. The detour is taking residents onto Henderson Road and Saulin Boulevard to go around the work.

Sinkhole issues have plagued the area around the mall and 202 for years. Experts have long cited the large amount of suspected limestone under the ground, which can be worn away by water. Excess rainfall and flooding, then, are big destablizers in those areas.