A massive sinkhole that opened up Sunday night on Cumberland Road just off Babcock Boulevard outside UPMC Passavant in McCandless Township brought traffic to a sudden halt and forced an immediate road closure. Crews and township officials quickly shut down the stretch, moved in barriers and began evaluating the cavity to secure the scene. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
According to WPXI, PennDOT reports that the closure covers Cumberland Road between Babcock Boulevard and Cumberland Woods Drive, and the township has shared a detour map for drivers while the area is assessed. WPXI also noted that the station reached out to UPMC for comment on any potential impacts to hospital operations.
Hospital access
UPMC Passavant’s McCandless campus, listed at 9100 Babcock Boulevard, sits right next to the affected stretch of Cumberland Road. With the hospital just off Babcock, responders are prioritizing safe access to emergency and patient entrances while officials evaluate the sinkhole. As of the early reports cited, hospital operations had not been publicly flagged as suspended.
Closures and detours
PennDOT’s closure remains in place for the section of Cumberland Road between Babcock Boulevard and Cumberland Woods Drive while crews and township engineers assess the damage. The township has published a detour map for drivers, according to WPXI. Motorists heading to the hospital or traveling through the North Hills should plan for delays and check official traffic resources for real-time updates, including 511PA.
Why sinkholes open up
Sinkholes can appear suddenly when subsurface soil or rock is washed away by groundwater or when aging underground infrastructure fails. In developed areas, so-called cover-collapse sinkholes can be especially abrupt, as explained by the U.S. Geological Survey. Across Pennsylvania, transportation crews have tackled sinkhole remediation projects using techniques such as grouting and other stabilization methods to shore up roadways and prevent additional collapse, according to PennDOT project pages.
Township and PennDOT crews remain on the scene to assess the damage and figure out the next steps for repairs, and officials have not yet offered a timeline for when Cumberland Road might reopen. Drivers and patients are urged to follow posted detour signs and to check the Town of McCandless news feed along with PennDOT and 511PA updates before heading into the area.
