Apr 4, 2002 By Patty Shultz 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – A cutback in available funds for maintenance will still allow the city street department to pave a moderate number of roads and alleys this year, according to the department’s director. Councilman Bruce Jaynes said an outside contractor would upgrade seven roadways within the next few months, while city workers will pave eight alleys.

The streets slated for improvement include East Murphy Avenue, from McCormick Avenue to Prospect Street; East Francis Avenue, from Pittsburgh Street to McCormick Avenue; Decatur Avenue, from Route 119 to East Gibson Avenue; Cottage Avenue, from Crawford Avenue to Fairview Avenue; and Penn Street, from Franklin Avenue to Blackstone Avenue.

East Fayette Street, from Pittsburgh Street to York Avenue, will be the main focus of the summer construction project, said Jaynes, as its road surface was removed last year so that new sidewalks could be constructed.

When questioned by Councilwoman Judy Keller as to the criteria used to select the streets, Widmer Engineering Inc. spokesman Dick Widmer said those chosen were the roadways in most need of repair and within close proximity.

“We tried to package the streets that need paving by location,” he said. “You get a little better price if they’re together.”

Because of the financial constraints, Widmer said, other considerations included the amount of work necessary and whether handicapped-access ramps were needed.

“We picked streets that didn’t need milling or handicap ramps, so basically all of it (the city financial investment) will go into paving,” he said.

Alleys slated for upgrading include the throughways between Ninth Street and 12th Street, from Leisenring Avenue to Marietta Avenue; between Sycamore Street and Chestnut Street, from Austin Avenue to the end of the roadway; between Vine Street and Sycamore Street, from Austin Avenue to Newmyer Avenue; and Pinnacle Alley, from Ogden Street to Jefferson Street.

Keller again questioned the selection process, noting that one of the alleys ended at the rear of a private property.

“I would like to see alleys that are throughways addressed first and then dead-end alleys next,” she said.

Council will review bids from contractors interested in the street work and material bids for the alley project at a May 14 meeting.

In other related business, Jaynes said that the street sweeper will be run on roadways beginning April 15.

Residents are encouraged to clean the weeds from the sidewalks and place them along the curb for the sweeper to pick them up on the scheduled day. Residents are not allowed to put yard clippings in the roadway.

Vehicles should be removed from the roadway to accommodate the street sweeper.