Route 202 Reopens After Sinkhole Repairs in King of Prussia

All lanes on a sinkhole-prone section of Route 202 in King of Prussia reopened on November 4, ending a closure of the southbound lanes that began in February. Crews were painting roadway lines beside the junction of Henderson Road with Saulin Boulevard that Wednesday afternoon as the road returned to traffic.

The $22.4 million repair project was federally funded and involved drilling more than 100 feet underground to apply grout. Major construction is complete, but PennDOT spokesperson Brad Rudolph said contractors may still need brief lane closures to finish the work.

Sinkholes have caused closures in both directions on Route 202 at intervals over the past two years. The highway is a key route to the shops and malls in the area, including King of Prussia Mall, and the construction and traffic signs have deterred customers from nearby businesses, said Pattie Malone, director of the nonprofit Marian’s Attic.

The area sits above limestone and dolomite bedrock. Water dissolving the limestone can create underground cavities that eventually give way as sinkholes. Upper Merion Township public works director Geoff Hickman described the Route 202 sinkholes as among the most significant in the township’s history.

The reopening comes ahead of the holiday shopping season, but the underlying geological conditions remain. Rudolph said favorable weather helped the repair work, while further project work is still to come.