Crews clearing ice, snow damage from Forbes State Forest; part of Linn Run Road closed

Forbes State Forest maintenance workers have been contending much of the week with snow and ice that has pulled down trees and utility lines in eastern Westmoreland County.

Assistant district forester Don Stiffler said part of Linn Run Road just beyond the state park with the same name will be closed until at least next week.

“The ice storm raised a lot of havoc up there,” he said.

Many state forest roads were left impassable this week after a string of cold temperatures and snowstorms, according to Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Most of the department’s state forest districts reported numerous disabled and abandoned vehicles, including more than 24 in Forbes State Forest, she said. Much of the forestland lies in Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties.

A crew of five maintenance workers, with the help of a few foresters and park rangers, have been working in the Forbes State Forest in the Laurel Highlands to clear roads and recreation areas, Stiffler said.

“Our guys have been busting their butts” and working overtime, he said.

On Tuesday, crews dealt with the immediate aftermath of the winter storm and by Wednesday were able to clear about 2 miles of Laurel Summit Road between Route 30 and the forest boundary after downed power lines were fixed. That was a top priority to allow emergency vehicles access to Laurel Mountain Borough, where about 125 people live, according to Census data.

By Thursday and Friday, the crews moved on to state forest roads and snowmobile trails.

“We’re trying to get the recreators out there,” Stiffler said.

Linn Run Road is closed at the state forest boundary with the state park to the top of the mountain until downed wires can be cleared. Linn Run and Laurel Summit state parks and the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail are still accessible. Stiffler urged motorists to use caution if traveling to those areas.

“I’m sure there’s probably some branches that have broken that have not come down,” he said. “We’re working as hard as we can to get things opened up.”