Route 908 Extension is closed indefinitely after state maintenance workers discovered the already partially collapsed road has crumbled more.
PennDOT spokesman Jim Struzzi said an existing landslide along Route 908 Extension between Bailies Run and Tarentum-Culmerville roads is causing the hillside below the road to slide away.
"The slide began about five or six months ago," he said. "At the time it wasn't considered anything major, but for some reason it has progressed further."
This isn't the first time the hill has given away causing the road to collapse.
In April 2003 it washed out near the border between Fawn and Frazer, forcing PennDOT to reduce it to one lane. Temporary stop signs were placed at both ends of the washout until it was repaired a month later.
Prior to the road being closed on Monday, it once again was reduced to one lane.
"The road is in need of extensive repair," Struzzi said.
However, the full extent of repairs was not known Monday evening. Struzzi said state engineers are to assess the road.
Motorists are being detoured onto Millerstown Road -- through Fawn and West Deer -- and onto Bakerstown Road. The detour is four miles.
It could not be determined what effect the road closing will have on emergency vehicles accessing homes along Route 908 Extension.
Several attempts to contact the chiefs of both Frazer fire companies were unsuccessful.
