A dangerous situation often occurs on Route 902 in Summit Hill, specifically on what are locally known as White Bear Hill and Bugzies Mountain.

It’s a situation that has existed for years and has resulted in crashes.

Storm drains along the steep roadway with sharp curves are blocked with leaves, litter and road debris. The highway is heavily traveled and has been the scene of many serious crashes.

At a recent meeting of Summit Hill Borough Council, a letter was read by Kevin Steber, the borough’s emergency management coordinator, stating of the drains: “During heavy rainstorms the water cannot effectively be drained and ends up flowing across the roadway surface thus creating a very hazardous hydroplaning potential.”

Steber is also the safety officer and president of the Summit Hill Fire Department. He is an active firefighter and responds to calls with the fire department, including crashes on the hills he mentioned in the letter.

He stated in the letter, “An acceptable remedy would be for PennDOT to clean the storm drains and side of the roadways so stormwater can drain properly.”

The runoff isn’t a hazard only during heavy rains. In the winter, because of the blocked drains, water flows across the highway and freezes. Since the hill is so steep and snakelike, sliding on ice in such conditions can result in flipped vehicles, head-on crashes and other serious incidents.

It’s not the first time these conditions were directed to the attention of PennDOT.

In August 2023, borough resident Nancy Kerestus mentioned her concerns about the situation to the council.

Kerestus at that time said she contacted, in addition to PennDOT, two state representatives, the Carbon County commissioners and the borough council.

She said PennDOT had removed some debris from atop the grates but not piles of leaves, garbage, etc. that surround them, leading them to quickly get blocked again.

According to Kerestus, one state representative asked her to contact local Boys Scouts to see if they might take on the project of cleaning the grates.

Quite frankly, if that representative would have even visited the site, he would realize the highway has a very little shoulder and having anyone cleaning up litter along it would be extremely dangerous. In no way would any leader consider putting Scouts or any other youth groups in harm’s way with such a project. Residents deserve a better response from an elected state official.

A member of Summit Hill Borough Council also suggested that although the grates on the storm sewers are cleaned, there’s a lot of debris inside them that also can lead to water overflow.

Pennsylvania touts itself as “The Safe Driving State.” It’s been utilizing this slogan for years.

As a result, it’s the responsibility of state officials to make the Route 902 hills safer for the motoring public.

There’s no exaggeration in the warning of Steber. Anyone who travels the hills during a storm can see how the water flows across the road. In the winter, PennDOT has its hands full keeping the hill passable because of constant freezing from the overflow.

This is a situation that should not be ignored.