RENOVO - Northern Tier roads throughout the state are taking the brunt of the Marcellus Shale gas drilling as larger-than-normal trucks travel mountain roads not meant to handle such heavy operating equipment.
From dump trucks to tractor-trailers hauling water or sand, logging trucks, and flatbed trucks carrying pipe and other supplies and equipment - certain narrow, mountainous asphalt roads are crumbling under the weight.
It's the price municipalities in the region are paying to allow various companies to drill for needed natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.
State Route 144, known as Ridge Road on top of Halls Run to north of Snow Shoe, is one such road that is deteriorating daily, and quite possibly could be deemed too dangerous to travel if current operations continue, officials in Western Clinton County warn.
The road is part of the Pennsylvania Wilds and connects western Clinton County to the Snow Shoe, Philipsburg and Clearfield areas.
Route 144 at the top of Halls Run Mountain is being used to support Anadarko Petroleum Corp.'s natural gas drilling on state-owned land.
Currently, contractor Glenn O. Hawbaker is running a pilot vehicle over a four-mile stretch of road that "is collapsed, but passable," according to one employee.
Once a vehicle hits the four-mile stretch, they are held up by a flag person awaiting a patrol vehicle. On Sunday morning, a nine-minute wait was the norm once a driver hit the top of Halls Run.
After a pilot truck brings traffic from the opposing direction, it turns around and takes those that were waiting back up the other direction.
The lead truck weaves over each side of the road. Ruts appear often, where heavy equipment has pushed the pavement into rolls as if it were simply mud. In other places, the road appears almost to have been pulverized into sink holes, leaving chunks of asphalt in piles.
Perhaps the most alarming aspect to the passerby is the rate is which the road is deteriorating.
On March 10, a trip over Route 144 to Snow Shoe was a much smoother one. Then, about 10 bad spots were marked by a single orange traffic cone, alerting drivers to cautiously go around the roads' blemishes.
On Sunday - just 18 days later - a patrol vehicle is now required to lead drivers over the four worst miles of road and dozens, if not hundreds of cones are used to warn of danger.
Jim Nevins has noticed the road deterioration in related trips across Route 144. Nevins is a longtime member of the Western Clinton Sportsman's Association and one of its many members who oppose the proposed extraction of water out of the Susquehanna River at Hyner.
A person with a love of the mountains that Clinton County and beyond has to offer, Nevins recently testified to various aspects of the Marcellus Shale drilling.
"I was shocked," said Nevins of the worsening road conditions. "The road is just nasty now. That four mile stretch of road was nowhere near the shape that it is now compared to just two weeks ago."
Nevins saids the road is symbolic of the kind of impact the drilling has - not only now but into the future.
"Look, neither I nor the WCSA are against the drilling, but it's out of control right now," said Nevins. "The infrastructure is not in place ... the roads are not ready for this ... things just aren't in place. We're just asking that someone get control of this. We know the drilling is going to happen. There is just too much money involved for it to completely go away."
James "Butch" Knuaff has been appointed to two different Marcellus shale-related boards in Clinton County. Additionally, Knuaff is chief of Citizen's Hose Co. No. 28, which covers the worst of Route 144.
"As of right now, we will take our smaller four-wheel-drive truck should an accident occur," said Knauff.
The North Bend resident said he would like to see more of a proactive approach to the situation.
"I'm quite surprised that there are not signs as early as South Renovo, warning drivers of conditions sooner as opposed to once you're right there," Knauff said. "The first warning of a pilot vehicle and the delay is less than one mile from the point at which you stop for the pilot vehicle."
Just as concerning to both Nevins and Knauff is that the remedy to the situation seems so uncertain.
According to Wes Carson, manager of the state Department of Transportation's Clinton County operations, his agency is aware of the situation and repairs are pending.
In fact, Carson said, the work is to be done "very soon," though he could not confirm that Anadarko will foot the bill.
"I can say with certainty that PennDOT is not paying for the road to be repaired," said Carson.
Additionally, local officials question if the road can be repaired to the point of being able to handle such heavy truck traffic.
"I'm very skeptical to see how a road that is not meant for more than 10 tons can be fixed, and then suddenly handle vehicles much heavier than its limitations," said Nevins.
The reports from Nevins and Knauff follow identical challenges faced by officials at Haneyville in regard to state Route 44 at the Clinton-Lycoming county line.
