By Walter Hojka
Early in the morning of May 7, a portion of U.S. 33 was blocked by large boulders. The rockslide occurred in a stretch of the road between the intersection of Germany Valley Road and the building known as Raines’ store in Riverton.
Bill Sites, 84, who lives near the location, said that it was the largest slide he has ever seen.
Phone service to the area, which was interrupted by the slide, was restored within 24 hours, according to Robert Butler of Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telephone (SKSRT).
“It was an all-hands-on-deck situation,” said Butler.
The 911 service to the SKSRT service area was interrupted for a few hours, according to Rick Gillespie, emergency services coordinator for Pendleton County. Gillespie reported that the dispatcher at the 911 center in Pendleton County requested fire departments in Circleville and Seneca Rocks staff their stations to handle any potential emergencies. Radio stations then broadcasted this information to the public. Gillespie also reported that the 911 trunk line, which travels on the same poles, was fortunately uninterrupted.
Justin Johnson of the Department of Highways said cleanup of the slide took three days and required the use of an excavator equipped with a hammer drill.
