Apr 11, 2003 By Patty Shultz 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The redevelopment authority will seek bids for a sidewalk replacement project along one of the city’s busiest roadways. Authority board members approved the advertisement for the Ninth Street project during the Tuesday meeting in anticipation of awarding a contract in May.

“We want to get in there and get it done before PennDOT gets started with its project,” said Ralph Wombacker, authority executive director.

The state plans to repave the southbound lanes of Route 119 (Ninth Street) this year during an upgrading project at the north and southbound intersection of Crawford Avenue and Route 119.

Last year, the city set aside $100,000 to replace the sidewalk from the intersection of Crawford Avenue and Ninth Street to Graham Street in its state Community Development Block Grant allocation budget.

Additionally, the project will include the moving of the utility lines and poles from their current location within the sidewalk to a state owned right-of-way located at the rear of the sidewalk.

According to Widmer Engineering vice-president Dick Widmer, the poles are being moved for safety reasons.

Allegheny Power will assume the costs of the relocation, said Wombacker.

A request by the city Shade Tree Committee Chairman Paul Whipkey to place trees along the Ninth Street sidewalk is still being considered by the board.

“This (sidewalk) project is going to be very expensive and to make accommodations for the inclusion of the trees will add to the overall cost,” said Wombacker. “Our first priority, if there is any additional money, will be to extend the sidewalk to Greene Street; if there are any remaining funds then we will include adding the trees.”

In other business, the board authorized a partial payment of $21,500 to Allegheny Power for costs related to the installation of the decorative lighting along the West Crawford Avenue and the West Crawford Avenue bridge.

The power company began replacing the mercury vapor fixtures with the quartz acorn-style lights two weeks ago along the bridge. Workers are now completing underground electrical connections for those lights to be replaced along the roadway.

The city set aside $86,000 through its 2002 CDBG allocation for the installation of 21 lights from the bridge to Brimstone Corner.

In other matters, the board also:

– Learned that the 2003 CDBG application had been submitted to Harrisburg for review.

– Was advised that its May 14 meeting would be held at the Pleasant Valley Country Club at 5 p.m.