Many of us have come to expect a certain level of service from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). But with millions of households to deliver to and tens of thousands of post offices to run across the country, the agency isn't always able to uphold its regular standards for every state all the time. From hazardous weather to building issues, unexpected disruptions may pop up and force the Postal Service to pause operations in certain areas. In fact, customers in separate parts of the U.S. are dealing with this right now. Read on to find out more about where the USPS is currently suspending services.
RELATED: USPS Is Making These Changes to Your Mail, Starting Now.
The USPS is suspending services at a post office in Pennsylvania.
iStockPeople in one part of Pennsylvania are now dealing with a new service disruption. In an Aug. 10 local press release, the Postal Service announced that it was planning to shutter a facility in Windber, Pennsylvania, in the coming days.
"Postal operations at the Windber Post Office, 1600 Graham Avenue, will be temporarily suspended at the close of business Saturday, Aug. 12," the USPS stated in its alert.
The Windber Post Office is closing in order to "conduct repairs to the facility’s floor," according to the agency. When Best Life reached out to the USPS to find out why the floor needs to be fixed, a spokesperson said the agency has "no further information" on the closure.
Customers should expect the facility to remain closed for weeks.
iStockThe Postal Service has provided the affected Pennsylvania customers with an estimated timeframe for the closure. "Repairs in Windber are anticipated to last approximately 1 month," the USPS noted in its release. "We appreciate the patience of our valued customers during this time as we look forward to returning to Windber as soon as possible."
During this closure, the agency is relocating services to a nearby facility in Elton, Pennsylvania. "Windber P.O. Box customers may claim their mail at the Elton Post Office," the Postal Service said. "Windber residents who receive street delivery will report to the Elton Post Office if they need to claim packages or signature requested items that were not able to be delivered by their carrier."
RELATED: See a Sticker on Your Mailbox? Don't Touch It, USPS Says.
The Postal Service is also closing a post office in a different state.
iStockIt's not just postal customers in Pennsylvania who are currently dealing with new service suspensions, however. In an Aug. 15 update to its Service Alerts website, the USPS confirmed that a facility in Bethune, Colorado, is also "temporarily closed" right now.
But unlike with the Windber Post Office, the agency hasn't provided any explanation for why it has shuttered the Bethune Post Office. Best Life has reached out to the USPS for more information on this closure, and we will update this story with their response.
However, the Postal Service did give Bethune Post Office customers direction on an alternative facility to use for the time being. "During this closure, customers' mail and retail services will be available at Burlington Post Office," the agency stated in its alert. "Customers are reminded to bring proper photo identification for mail and package pickups."
Another Colorado facility was recently shuttered as well.
ShutterstockThese are just two of the newest closures being added to the Postal Service's ongoing list of service suspensions. In fact, the agency just recently alerted Colorado customers to another closure in the state before the Bethune alert. According to an earlier Aug. 9 update to the Service Alerts website, a facility in Thornton, Colorado, is also temporarily closed right now.
USPS spokesperson James Boxrudpreviously toldBest Life that the lease for the Thornton Post Office had ended, and the building's owner "has chosen to redevelop the location" instead of making a new agreement with the Postal Service. "Our colleagues have been communicating for some time with the city in advance of this change, and we are working to find retail space nearby," Boxrud said.
