Contractor to repair River Road
PERRY TWP. – The township supervisors have awarded a $57,000 contract to New Atlas to repair River Road, which has subsided more than 8 feet over the last three months and has subsequently been closed for more than three weeks. The township received three bids separated by less than $1,000 for the stabilization project, and all three came in about $16,000 over costs estimated by the township’s engineer for the project.
“Talk about straining the budget quick,” Supervisor A.J. Boni said. “We just did it. I don’t know where we are going to get the money. This is going to strap the township budget.”
He added that Fayette County has donated $5,000 toward the road project.
Boni said construction should begin as soon as possible, and Atlas has 30 days to compete the repairs.
The subsided stretch of road is about 130 feet long, and the entire roadside and guide rails have sunk over the side of the slide.
Boni said the subsidence began over the winter and was caused by bad cross drains that were left under the roadway when it was repaved a few years ago.
He said that with the roadway closed, Whitsett residents have only one route in and out of the village, Fuller Hill Road, and that the closure represents a flood threat with no easy escape routes.
The supervisors also conducted the following business at their meeting last week:
– Announced that seven certified letters were sent to residents for violation of township code, and five citations were issued in April.
– Discussed the repairs needed to the North Liberty Street Bridge, in conjunction with the Perryopolis Borough Council, and announced that the bridge work should be completed by winter.
– Entered into a cooperative agreement with Fayette County for the enforcement of the Uniform Construction Code.
– Transferred the water debt collection for water service in the township to the North Fayette Municipal Authority and the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County, to reduce overall liability and allow the supervisors to pursue grants and loans for other projects.
– Discussed the impending state Department of Transportation Route 51 study and expressed their disapproval of any plans that would require concrete Jersey barriers to increase safety because of the economic impact caused by the dividing walls.
– Approved the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Act (LERTA). LERTA will provide a tax break for new construction in the township, including two zones along Route 51.
– Reminded area residents that burning in the township is restricted to Wednesdays and Saturdays, during daylight hours.