For weeks it has been a spectacle that has raised many questions.
The most common one: What are we going to do about the crack in Brush Mountain?
The crack on the Blair County mountain started relatively small, then grew to ten feet wide, 15 feet deep, and then bigger.
It caused concern amongst Logan Township officials and nearby businesses. The worry stemmed from the power lines that stood along the base of the hillside, behind the businesses. Should that hillside collapse, live wire would hit the ground, and the whole area would be electrified.
This past Wednesday night, Penelec took action, shutting down the line to reroute power in the area. Around 50 businesses were forced to shut down.
Those businesses started to reopen Thursday, some running on generators. All of them were back open for business on Friday. That’s when demolition crews started to really chip away at the rocks.
Part of the plan is to move rocks around along the bottom to reroute drainage for water. Water has been the main culprit in all of this. The consistent rain we’ve been getting got into the crack and loosened the clay and rock layer underneath, causing the hillside to shift.
The plan now is to continue digging away at the side of Brush Mountain until they reach the crack. Crews did not say how long it will take, but everyone shopping at Logan Town Centre will be safe.