Mar 6, 2015 2 min read

Drivers in Washington will face a detour this construction season because of replacement of the South Wade Avenue bridge over Chartiers Creek. In Daisytown, a replacement bridge will be built alongside the existing bridge, which will remain open during the project.

Washington County Planning Director Lisa Cessna explained this week there is no other way in or out of Daisytown, so no detour can be put in place in the vicinity of the No. 11 bridge over Pike Run. On Thursday, the Washington County commissioners awarded a $719,442 contract to Carmen Paliotta Contracting of South Park Township. Costs of the project are to be borne by state taxpayers. The single-lane bridge will be replaced with a slightly wider single-lane bridge.

The commissioners Thursday also awarded a $953,217 contract to Independent Enterprises Inc. of Oakdale for the replacement of the No. 61 Chartiers-South Wade Avenue bridge south of East Maiden Street. The cost of this project will be paid 80 percent by federal dollars, 15 percent by state taxpayers and 5 percent by Washington County liquid fuels funds.

Cessna said she does not yet have a start date, but work on each project will begin this spring.

“You’re looking at fall before they’re completed,” Cessna said.

In another matter related to the planning commission, the commissioners rejected all bids for a Panhandle Trail resurfacing project in Smith and Robinson townships because of the high cost. Bidders and their proposed amounts were A. Folino Construction, Oakmont, $1,223,678; El Grande Industries, Monessen, $1,653,000; Morgan Excavating, Belle Vernon, $999,594; Russell Standard, Pittsburgh, $1,375,645 million; and Tedesco Construction Co., White Oak, $1,357,941. Specifications will be rewritten for solely paving of the trail, but some parking areas will be included.