Connellsville to begin sidewalk work
CONNELLSVILLE – The city redevelopment authority will issue a notice to proceed this week for the construction of new sidewalks along Ninth Street. According to Ralph Wombacker, executive director of the authority, D.T. Construction of Dunbar Township also will be informed that the utility poles that line the corridor will be relocated by Verizon and Allegheny Power to the rear of the new pathway.
The decision to relocate the poles came last week after authority solicitor Charles Watson reviewed the matter.
“I’ve sent a memo to the mayor, city council, the redevelopment board of directors and Widmer Engineering Inc., notifying them that after conferring with attorney Watson that in order to comply with PennDOT regulations and vehicular safety, the telephone poles will be moved as per (PennDOT’s) recommendation,” said Wombacker. “The matter is resolved.”
City council has debated the matter at numerous meetings but has not informed the authority, which is overseeing the project, whether the poles should be moved.
The two-lane highway, also known as the southbound corridor of Route 119, is located within a 50-foot right of way set aside by the city nearly 50 years ago for the construction of the state highway.
After reviewing the plans for the sidewalk construction, PennDOT recommended the utility poles be moved from the current location to the rear of the new walkway.
Residents balked at the change, noting that the poles provided an extra measure of safety for those using the sidewalks and for homes along the roadway.
PennDOT, however, claimed that the present location did not meet safety standards, and officials informed the city council that if it failed to comply with the recommendation to relocate the poles, the city could face future liability should an accident involving the utility poles take place.
At the July council meeting, Mayor Judy Reed presented a motion to retain the pole locations but relocate the sidewalk. Her motion received no support from the council.
The authority, at its later meeting, determined to have Watson review the PennDOT information and proceed with his recommendation.
“The construction company has its schedule, and we can’t be holding them up,” said Wombacker. “Also, the sidewalk project has to be done before PennDOT starts its own road reconstruction project in the area.”
D.T. Construction has not informed the authority when it will begin the project.