Route 19 project to start in August
Lingering questions over whether two utility poles are on private property or in the public right-of-way prompted the contractor to adjust the construction schedule for the next phase of the Route 19 improvement project through the city.
Steve Zottola of Frank Zottola Construction said Tuesday that work will begin next month on Murtland and Ridge avenues between the state police barracks to near Central Avenue.
“That way we can wrap up the work this year without too much trouble,” Zottola said.
The work, which will include milling off the old surface and then resurfacing the road, as well as sidewalk work, will begin either the week of Aug. 12 or Aug. 19, said Scott Faieta, assistant construction engineer for the state Department of Transportation.
“The work will require some lane closures controlled by flaggers,” Faieta said. “The contractor can only work in that area between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.”
Zottola said he does not plan on having the entire stretch torn up at one time. PennDOT and the contractor continue to work with West Penn Power to determine whether two utility poles are private or in the public right-of-way.
“West Penn thinks they are private, but our records show the poles to be in the right-of-way,” Faieta said.
If it is determined the poles are on private property, then PennDOT will have to pay to have them moved. West Penn Power picks up the cost of moving poles in the public right-of-way. Faieta said that the contractor cannot demolish the buildings, including the former Highland Grill, until pricing is obtained for asbestos testing and the buildings are tested. Faieta said there also have been indications that people are entering the former bar. Anyone caught will be arrested, he added. Work on the other phase of the project on College Street is continuing and should be wrapped up this fall. One side of the road has been paved and traffic has been switched over to the newly paved surface. The $2.6 million Route 19 project is to be completed in October 2014.