Project Overview
County: Montgomery
Municipality: Upper Merion Township
State Route(s): U.S. 202
Local Name(s): Dekalb Pike
Project Type: Sinkhole Remediation
Last Updated: January 2026
The U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) sinkhole remediation project will provide a long-term solution to address repeat sinkholes that have occurred within the roadways. The proposed work will be completed along U.S. 202 (DeKalb Pike) in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, between Henderson Road and Saulin Boulevard. The proposed scope of work includes a limited mobility grouting program that will involve drilling holes through the pavement in a “grid” pattern. Pressurized grout will be injected into the drilled holes to fill subsurface voids beneath the roadway. The filling of subsurface voids will help stabilize the ground beneath the pavement and reduce the risk of future sinkholes. Additional proposed work for this project includes drainage pipe replacement and pavement reconstruction.
Construction Update
PA American Water will be performing a water main installation on southbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County.
Motorists are advised of the following travel restriction:
- Monday, January 12, through late February, from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM the following morning, a weeknight lane closure will be in place on southbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) between Saulin Boulevard and Henderson Road.
Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work area because backups and delays will occur. The schedule is weather dependent.
The water main installation is part of advance work before stage 2 of PennDOT’s sinkhole remediation project begins on southbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) sometime this spring.
PennDOT reopened northbound U.S. 202 (Dekalb Pike) on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, following eight months of construction to repair and reconstruct the roadway.
The Process of Fixing a Sinkhole
Fixing sinkholes on Route 29 and U.S. 202 is a massive engineering puzzle that goes way deeper than the pavement!
The geology under a sinkhole is unpredictable. Under the surface, bedrock depth can shift by 60ft in just a few steps. Our crews often drill over 100 feet deep, and we don’t stop until we’ve penetrated 10 feet of solid rock to ensure a permanent fix.
Why does it take so long?
Drilling through solid rock takes much longer than drilling through soil and limestone—about 5-10 minutes for every 10 feet. With hundreds of holes to drill and specialized equipment to move, it’s a time-consuming process. This work is so specialized that we have experts on-site from as far away as California!
Low Mobility Grouting (LMG)
Once the holes are ready, we use LMG. Think of it as thick, heavy "toothpaste" pumped deep underground. Unlike runny concrete, it stays in a tight bulb, using high pressure to squeeze and compact the soil, filling hidden voids and stopping sinkholes before they start.
Check out this video below to see the drilling process in action!
Accessibility
The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation or interpretation services, have special needs, or have concerns that require individual attention, please contact the Project Manager listed above.
Title VI
Pursuant to the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the PennDOT, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891.