Southbound lanes of Route 202 in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, shut down for sinkhole prevention work
Drivers in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, can expect to take a detour for the next few months as a section of Route 202 is set to close for several months for preventative sinkhole work.
The southbound lanes will be closed until late fall between Henderson Road and Prince Frederick Boulevard in Upper Merion Township. The site is about two miles away from the King of Prussia Mall. Drivers should use Saulin Boulevard as the main detour.
A stretch of Route 202, also known as DeKalb Pike, has closed several times in the past few years after sinkholes opened up, causing headaches for commuters and residents. One sinkhole that opened in July 2023 near Henderson Road and Saulin Boulevard shut down the road for two weeks.
To guard against future sinkholes, PennDOT will be injecting pressurized grout under the roadway to fill any voids.
Almost a year ago to the day, the northbound lanes were shut down for this same kind of work.
While the road is shut down, crews also plan to make drainage improvements and reconstruct pavement. Despite the closure, locals will still be able to access their homes and businesses.
The road sits over a bed of "soft soil" and limestone, which can wash away when it gets wet after rainfall or if a pipe breaks, experts previously told CBS News Philadelphia.
PennDOT is hopeful this is the last time Route 202 will have to be shut down for anything sinkhole-related.
Traffic could affect businesses
Brian Ajedho, of Conshohocken, said the work is affecting traffic in the area.
"The bus routes have to be rerouted. And school time is really the worst, and with my kids in school around here, it's definitely a problem," Ajedho said.
Shark Cut, a barbershop in the area, is already feeling the impact, owner Jamie Dang said.
Dang said seven people canceled their appointments on Thursday.
"The clients tell us they can't make it here on time, or they get frustrated before, the past couple times, when the road was closed anyway, so it's going to be slow for us," Dang said.
One woman said solving the sinkhole issue is worth the hassle.
"It's going to be a little bit of a pain for a while. I'm an Instacart shopper, so I go back and forth a lot around here, but it needs to be done. The sinkholes have been a problem," Keeney said. "I used to work in King of Prussia, and it was like every other day, there was a sinkhole. So, I'm glad they're finally putting a fix to it that's going to be permanent."
Map shows detour route around Route 202 sinkhole
This map shows how drivers can get around the closure on Route 202 southbound in King of Prussia for these sinkhole repairs.
When you reach Saulin Boulevard, make a left, then follow it to Henderson Road, where you can head back to Route 202 and continue past the closed section.
