Scranton Mine Subsidence

Project Overview

Deep room-and-pillar mines have been active in Pennsylvania’s coalfields since the late 1700s. Sinking of the ground surface above the mines occurs as long troughs or local circular potholes attributed to the failure or punching of coal pillars or the collapse of mine roofs, respectively. GeoStructures provided services for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to investigate a collapsing shoulder problem near Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Historic mining documents and old maps were obtained from the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) to study a dangerous collapsing shoulder problem along the Northeast Extension near Scranton, Pennsylvania. The records placed a vertical mineshaft in the area. A deep core boring program conducted by GeoStructures verified the feature as a partially backfilled, 120-ft deep shaft. Careful consideration of various remedial options in terms of feasibility and disruption to traffic flow resulted in the selection of a compaction-grouting repair. Photo shows geologic mapping along the Northeast Extension in the 1950s (PA Turnpike Commission Archives).

Mine Subsidence Analysis and Remediation

Forensic Evaluations

Highway and Bridge Geotechniques

Drilling Services and Subsurface Investigations

Our Comprehensive Project Workflow: Step-by-Step Guide

01.

Initial Consultation and Client Needs Assessment

Our team responds promptly to your inquiries, ensuring timely communication and immediate attention to your project needs. We work closely with clients to understand all project requirements, ensuring that we capture every detail and objective from the start.

02.

Development of Work Plan

Our expert project managers extend innovative problem-solving to project planning, resulting in technically-sound, cost-effective work plans to better serve our clients.

03.

Project Proposal and Agreement

We provide a detailed project proposal outlining the scope of work, fee schedule, and agreement terms. The project begins once the proposal is approved.

04.

Execution and Quality Assurance

Our highly skilled team of principals, project managers, engineers, and field staff execute the project with precision, maintaining open communication to ensure alignment with client expectations. Each project undergoes a rigorous quality check by our team of licensed professional engineers, ensuring all deliverables meet our high standards of excellence.

05.

Project Delivery and Invoicing

Upon completion, we deliver the final project and issue an invoice for the completed work, ensuring full transparency and satisfaction.