$1 million contract awarded for streetscape project in Hopwood
The intergovernmental board in charge of handling the grant money for the Hopwood Village Streetscape Project awarded a $1 million contract during a special meeting Wednesday. Supervisors from South Union and North Union townships awarded the $1,033,542 contract to Maccabee Industrial Inc. of Belle Vernon for the construction phase of the streetscape project.
Bob DeBord of Maccabee said construction will begin as soon as a notice to proceed has been issued.
Weather permitting, DeBord estimated it would take about six months to complete the project.
The streetscape project includes the demolition and removal of existing sidewalk and pathways in Hopwood, to be replaced with more than 3,000 square feet of stamped and broom-finished concrete sidewalks of varying widths.
Plans also call for an upgrade of curbs, gutters and sidewalks, as well as the installation of benches, landscaped flowerbeds and flowerpots.
Project engineer Terry McMillen of McMillen Engineering in Uniontown said project officials and representatives from Maccabee and the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will meet Friday to iron out specific details.
If all goes well, South Union Township Supervisor Thomas Frankhouser said Maccabee will be given a notice to proceed with construction following the meeting.
Frankhouser said he is eager to see construction begin, noting that several years of hard work have gone into seeing the project reach fruition.
The intergovernmental board received only two bids from contractors for the streetscape project. The bids were opened in July at a special meeting and tabled after coming in between $300,000 and $700,000 more than expected.
Maccabee was the low bidder at $1,033, 542.
After making sure enough money was available, the intergovernmental board had to wait for PennDOT’s approval before officially awarding the contract.
Frankhouser said those involved with the streetscape project were forced to overcome several obstacles along the way and thanked Hopwood Village Project committee members for all their hard work and dedication.
The Hopwood Village Project, a joint effort between the South Union and North Union townships, is a plan that calls to “dress up” the Route 40 community, giving the village a look and feel from the early days of the National Road.
Frankhouser said the streetscape project is being paid for with a federal grant from the office of U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Holidaysburg).