The combination of severe flooding over the summer and record-breaking snow this winter has caused a perfect storm of chaos for residents trying to access Balint Lane in Wilkins.
But despite the difficulties, township officials say there's little they can do for the private road beyond what's already being done.
"We're never going to maintain a private road. We couldn't, even if we wanted to, because we're not permitted to by [township] codes," said Manager Rebecca Bradley.
Access to Balint Lane, a private cul-de-sac of four houses atop a wooded hill off of Brown Avenue, has been compromised since its primary entrance, the Balint Lane Bridge, collapsed into Saw Mill Run creek due to flooding in June.
Following the collapse, traffic to the lane was detoured to Russell Lane, through the private property of resident Larry Patchel onto an unpaved portion of the Saw Mill Run roadway that runs into Balint Lane.
With the entrance from Mr. Patchel's property about a quarter-mile from the Balint Lane hillside, plus winter storm damage on Saw Mill Run and the hillside, residents said getting up the unpaved hill this winter had been difficult at best and impossible at the worst.
Resident Beverly Coulter said the road leading to the lane has "narrowed" since the floods and a fallen tree on the road has affected access for plow service, which is privately financed by Balint Lane residents.
After more than 20 inches of snow fell in early February, Ms. Coulter said she couldn't drive for about a week because of the lack of plow service. Once she attempted to drive, her car got stuck in a snowbank and AAA motor service couldn't make it up the hill to help.
"I've lived up here 17 years. I only have three years left on my mortgage. Am I going to have to move?" she wondered.
The area also has taken hits regarding access for public service. Waste Management spokesman Jim Gebicki said the company's trucks haven't made it up to Balint Lane in three weeks and that workers noted the loss of the bridge as an impediment to access.
Resident Deidre Pantalone said she was concerned that emergency vehicles would have similar difficulties making it up the hill.
"My concern is I know these guys have a plan in action, but an ambulance would never be able to get up the hill with the road the way that it is," she said.
Paul Romanelli, chief of Wilkins Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, said the company has a mutual aid agreement with Mornoeville's Volunteer Company No. 3 to respond to Balint Lane calls. Monroeville's minipumping fire truck will be used on the narrow road, and markers have been set to indicate how much hose will be needed to connect the truck to nearby water sources.
Woodland Hills Emergency Medical Services director Adam Knight said his department had not been notified of conditions on the road, but Ms. Bradley said Police Chief Edward Krancik and representatives from the public works department have been to Balint to ensure access in the event of an emergency. She said the township couldn't do much else because homeowners are responsible for ensuring their private road is accessible.
But Ms. Coulter said Commissioner Joe Costa reassured her the lane would be maintained on three occasions before the first snowfall, only to be rebuffed after the first storm. Mr. Costa said she "misunderstood his intentions" and he only promised the township would continue its maintenance as it had in previous years. The township is responsible for clearing the bridge.
In light of its collapse, it has provided maintenance on Saw Mill Run from the Russell Lane entrance up to the collapsed bridge.
Ms. Coulter and Mrs. Pantalone said the township was already maintaining Mr. Patchel's private lane because of extenuating circumstances and said they wished the services could extend up the hill for similar reasons.
But the consensus among residents and officials is the sooner the bridge is back in place, the better. Mr. Patchel said he was fine with the arrangement but was concerned his property would be declared a public road if it is used for more than a year. He said he had received legal advice regarding the matter.
Ms. Bradley said the township was waiting for permit approval from the Department of Environmental Protection to begin work on the bridge and expected to start by midsummer.
First Published: March 4, 2010, 4:15 p.m.