By George Guido

Published: Friday, March 22, 2013, 1:31 a.m.
Updated: Friday, March 22, 2013

The start of construction of the new Hulton Bridge connecting Harmar and Oakmont is approaching quickly.

Harmar supervisors on Thursday acted on several infrastructure-related projects, including the new Hulton span.

A plan was approved to share costs with PennDOT to replace seven manholes within 1,000 feet of the bridge location.

Debris will be cleaned from the sewage system, which is about 100 years old. This will prevent the need to go back and replace the manholes once the new bridge is built.

No final cost has been determined for the project.

Township Engineer Larry Seiler said demolition of buildings on the Harmar side will begin this year.

“Residents should start to see activity shortly in that area,” Seiler said.

The new bridge will be built on the side of the existing bridge closest to the Harmar business district.

The Hulton Bridge replacement is slated to get under way in August, according to a PennDOT construction schedule released earlier this month.

The $80 million project will include a four-lane bridge plus a pedestrian walkway.

It will replace the 104-year-old, two-lane span that is one of the worst-rated bridges in Western Pennsylvania, according to PennDOT records.

Other projects

Officials approved a series of overnight closures on the Rich Hill Road bridge over the turnpike during April.

One lane of Rich Hill is being kept open during the project to accommodate a nearby brick plant.

Signs will advise motorists of exact closure dates and detours.

The township also applied for a $75,000 Allegheny County Infrastructure and Tourism Fund grant to complete the Guys Run Road sanitary sewer rehabilitation project.

The final leg of the five-year project will include installing liners and sealing the sewer pipes.

Officials also said Wilson and Meadow streets will be paved this summer.

Supervisors also approved a $1,550 contract with Top Stitch of Brackenridge to reupholster the eight public officials chairs in the township meeting room and $6,500 to Robert's Carpeting of Springdale to re-carpet the room.

Supervisor Robert Exler asked if the improvements could be held off for a year while Supervisors Chairman Michael Hillery said it is the responsibility of supervisors to maintain township facilities.

The measures both passed by 4-1 votes, with Exler dissenting.

In other business

• The township made the final payment on the municipal building, built in 2004.

The final $6,600 monthly installment on the $350,000 loan took place recently.

• A public hearing will be held on April 18 at 7 p.m. prior to the regular meeting to approve an agreement with Springdale Borough to issue guidelines involving the sewer camera both municipalities recently bought.

Guidelines for loaning out the camera to other communities from the Allegheny Valley North Council of Governments will be established.

Another public hearing will be scheduled to consider allowing the Fox Chase Development group to build a clubhouse to serve the residential development, which is already 30 percent occupied.

The hearing date and time will be announced in a classified ad.

George Guido is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.

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