Officials celebrate completion of ‘Waynesburg Betterment’ streetscape project
The Waynesburg Betterment streetscape project hit an important “milestone” Monday as local and state dignitaries gathered on High Street to celebrate completion of the $13 million improvement to the borough’s downtown business district.
While ribbon cuttings are traditional events for when a new business opens up, Greene County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melody Longstreth thought it would be appropriate for the completion of the streetscape project, which officials and business leaders hope will help to revitalize the town.
“We’re here to celebrate something a little different,” Longstreth said. “We’re not opening a new business, (but it’s) a celebration of a project that will make downtown Waynesburg more accessible.”
The project overseen by the state Department of Transportation lasted more than 14 months and went beyond just adding a fresh layer of pavement to both High and Greene streets that carry east-west traffic through the borough. Updated traffic signals were installed – many of which have adaptive timing measures to help ease traffic congestion – and new sidewalks and curbings to improve pedestrian safety and allow for large trucks to make wide turns. Those improvements were especially noticeable at East High Street and South Morgan Street, which is a heavy traffic area for large trucks making wide turns onto Route 218.
Other upgrades include underground line work and drainage improvements to make the streetscape more appealing to visitors coming to shop in the borough.
“Truly, it makes a difference, even the things you can’t see. We’ve made it modern, but also more traditional,” state Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll, said of the sleek, black traffic signals and some of the lampposts. “It will go a long way for people who drive through showing that people care about this town. Apathy is contagious, but so is caring.”
State Rep. Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run, agreed with that sentiment, noting that “infrastructure is needed” to help small towns and their business districts thrive.
That is what Waynesburg Mayor Lynn Bussey is hoping the result will be now that construction is completed for the project aimed at helping make the borough’s business district more beautiful and functional.
“It’s such an honor to look out and see how much work has been done to improve (the business district),” Bussey said. “We can do more and continue to grow. All we have to do is work at it.”
County Commissioner Blair Zimmerman remembered growing up in Waynesburg and seeing High Street packed with people every Friday night. He’s hoping this project helps spur economic development.
“Wow, this is really important,” said Zimmerman, a former borough mayor. “I think we thought this would be more of a hassle than it was. All in all, (the town) went through this project smoothly.”
“This is a significant milestone for the community,” county Commissioner Betsy Rohanna McClure said, adding they must continue to work to make improvements to help the county’s seat of government.
Commission Chairman Jared Edgren said it was a collaborative effort to make sure the project was beneficial without becoming too disruptive.
“We are truly thankful for the betterment of our community (and) the strengthening of our community through streets and people.”
That thought was echoed by Joel Morris, who is the performance business manager for PennDOT District 12, which oversaw the project. He noted that 19,000 vehicles travel through town each day – including a very loud truck while he was speaking – so the Waynesburg Betterment project has the opportunity to do a lot of good for the area.
“Despite the complexity … the project was finished within 15 months,” Morris said. “Today is a proud day for PennDOT and Waynesburg, and it shows what can be done with collaboration.”