South Union proposes weight limit for road
South Union Township supervisors proposed Wednesday the establishment of a weight limit for vehicles traveling on Matthew Drive.
The supervisors moved to advertise an amendment of a township ordinance that would establish a 30-ton weight restriction on the roadway, which connects Route 21 and Route 40 and passes through the township’s major retail area.
“We’re very concerned with Matthew Drive because, with the Marcellus shale development, we’ve seen a substantial increase in heavy traffic on Matthew Drive,” said supervisor Robert Schiffbauer.
“Even though it was pretty well constructed under state and federal guidelines, we’re still concerned that we may be having our road damaged,” he added.
John Over of K2 Engineering said a traffic study and pavement analysis showed that the roadway needs the 30-ton weight limit.
“In doing the analysis, it certainly indicated that the design was not for the percentage of truck traffic that is currently on the road,” said Over.
Over recommended that the weight limit — with an exception for local deliveries — be posted along Matthew Drive and that a sign display that Matthew Drive is not a through street.
Supervisor Jason Scott said the township must preserve Matthew Drive for as long as possible because the cost of repaving the section of road would be “astronomical.”
In unrelated business, supervisors discussed plans to apply for a grant that would help fund the construction of a section of the Sheepskin Trail and a spur trail from Hutchinson Park to Fort Gaddis.
Shiffbauer said a matching grant through the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) would require the township to provide 50 percent of the cost required to construct the 4.5 miles of trail.
Current estimates show the cost build the two sections of trail to be a combined $1.1 million, said Over.
Shiffbauer said that while the township would be responsible for half of that cost, only a small portion of it would come from the general fund.
In other business, Over provided an update on status of Cherry Tree Square, reporting that site development is moving forward, with pyrite removal to be completed within the next 30 days and construction on a Harbor Freight Tools store to begin within the next 30 to 45 days.
There have been several leases signed on the property, said Over.
Development of Hobby Lobby and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels and a Mike Wood Toyota dealership, all of which are located in the Fayette County Business Park, is progressing, said Over.
In other business, supervisors:
n Reported that paving projects are set to begin April 16 and will include Belmeade Terrace, Carnation Avenue Extension, Centerwood Circle, Dixon Boulevard, Eastgate Road, Frances Street, Heritage Hills Road, Kings Way, Orchard Lane, Paisley Avenue, Regency Drive, Ruble Drive and Williams Street Extension.
n Reported that the developer of a small, residential subdivision off of Wiggins Lane acquired the necessary permits to begin infrastructure construction and roadway development.
n Said the township will provide garbage bags and garbage collection for residents willing to help with trash pickup along roadways.
n Reminded residents that the hours for yard waste burning are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.