Stabilization Begins at Kilbuck Twp. Slide Site

Wal-Mart begins to rebuild the hillside their development caused to slide onto Route 65 and beyond this week. The 2-phase approach will be overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP). The first phase will repack the land that left the hillside, mostly on the northern slope of the development site. Testing during that phase will help the engineers determine what, more specifically, is needed for the second phase. The whole project is scheduled for completion in 2009, but PA DEP spokesperson Helen Humphreys says they're working to make sure another slide won't happen, and that may take longer than some may like. Once completed, Wal-Mart proposes a green space for the site. Humphreys says there are no further applications for development, and no more are expected.

DEP To Host Public Meeting on Wal-Mart's Kilbuck Plan

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 18th in the Avonworth High School Auditorium to discuss Wal-Mart's proposed stabilization plan for the Kilbuck Township construction site where a landslide occurred in September, 2006. At that time, some 300,000 cu. yds. of earth closed Ohio River Blvd. for about two weeks.

In September, 2007, Wal-Mart announced it had dropped plans to develop the 75-acre site and committed to stabilizing the area permanently. Earth movement monitors show some portions of the slide area are still moving up to 3/8 of an inch per week.

The stabilization plan includes two walls, significant regrading, and native landscaping, which will return the property to the way it was in the 1850s before Dixmont State Hospital was built. The plan is available at DEP's Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh.