Sep 7, 2006 By Rebekah Sungala 2 min read

South Union Township supervisors said they look forward to seeing construction of Matthew Drive Extension begin as soon as possible during Wednesday’s meeting. The state Department of Environmental Protection recently issued a permit that will allow construction of Matthew Drive Extension through the Fayette County Business Park to commence.

The Fayette County Redevelopment Authority is handling the project, but Supervisor Robert Schiffbauer said Matthew Drive Extension will be handed over to the township once it’s completed.

“It will be a township road,” he said.

Schiffbauer said the road project should be put out to bid by October. He said the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will prepare the final documents and place the project out to bid.

Andrew French, executive director of the county Redevelopment Authority, previously told the Herald-Standard that Matthew Drive Extension will hopefully be “open and operating” by October 2007.

According to French, the road opening should coincide with the opening of the new Wal-Mart Super Center at the business park, which is also slated to open in the fall of 2007.

Schiffbauer said the project was delayed after the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) failed to issue a permit because of issues with a wetland area in the business park.

DEP agreed to mitigate the wetlands after several meetings with project officials, he said.

In unrelated matters, supervisors gave their approval to rezone a Brownfield property, changing it from a conservation area to an R-1 residential zone.

Schiffbauer said the property is owned by Kelly Piatti who plans to subdivide the property into about 20 lots.

Supervisors also conducted the following business:

– Awarded a bid to purchase a one-ton truck chassis, spreader box and plow. Also agreed to sell the township’s grader for $4,000.

– Announced the next regular meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Oct. 4 in the municipal building.