Traffic slowed in both directions of Route 422 thanks to the road buckling just in time for the afternoon rush Thursday.
The first report of a crack in the roadway happened near the St. Gabe’s Curve between the Trooper and Oaks exits sometime around 3 p.m., according to Traffic Pulse.
Both lanes were closed as crews assessed the damage, according to PennDOT. By 5:30 p.m. heavy machinery was bought in as crews made the hole larger.
Chopper 10 was over the scene as vehicles were forced to use shoulder to squeeze by one at a time. A long line of cars and trucks backed up behind the crack.
As crew assessed the eastbound lanes around 4:30, PennDOT says they were rushing to a report of the roadway buckling in the westbound lanes about 8 miles up the road near Limerick, PennDOT said.
The plan, according to PennDOT, was to temporarily patch the cracks with asphalt and make permanent repairs either Friday or Monday.
Roadways tend to buckle during extremely warm days. The temperature Thursday afternoon pushed into the high 90s.
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