Residents Up In Arms Over Wrecked Roadway In Northern Liberties
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In the ever-growing city that is Philadelphia, it's not hard to find areas under construction.
"They came up and they dug out an old collapsed sewer. After the first rain storm that sank. The second time they came out it was stone and then they threw some blacktop on it," said Robert Fosbenner, a building manager.
But what's bothering many on Willow Street between fourth and fifth in Northern Liberties is how long it's taken for the city streets department to fix two massive potholes.
"We are frustrated. All of us are," he said.
Both Fosbenner, and Andrew Thomas the president of the Local 22 Firefighters and Paramedics Union, which share the street, say they've been in contact with city officials for months.
"We noticed the sink hole on November 4 of 2015. We actually called it into the city and it's been in disrepair since," said Thomas.
Drivers have found themselves stuck. Cars have been damaged, and despite multiple calls over the past six months, they have been getting the same response from the city.
"We're on the list to get it fixed. That's the only answer we've got so far," Thomas said.
After calls from CBS3 to the Philadelphia Water and Streets Departments, officials from both agencies stopped by to look at the damage.
"We've been working with the Water Department. There is no sense in doing a permanent repair to the street if there is an infrastructure problem," said Stephen Lorenz, the City of Philadelphia Chief Highway engineer.
But now the Water Department says the underground work is done and final repairs can be made.
"The water issues have been resolved and now we're scheduling the permanent restoration," said a Water Department representative.
