PennDOT proposes preservation project for Glenfield viaduct

PennDOT wants to preserve the main access point to Glenfield — a viaduct that takes motorists and pedestrians across the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.

Officials said the bridge that leads down to Glenfield Street is in fair condition. It has not received major rehabilitation since it was built in 1988. The viaduct’s adjacent stair tower is considered to be in poor condition.

Assistant District Executive Doug Seeley said plans for the estimated $7 million project are in the preliminary stages and no contractor has been selected. It is being designed by SAI Consulting Engineers.

The proposed project would help extend the life of the viaduct that carries about 580 vehicles per day.

“I would call it a typical preservation project for us,” Seeley said. “(When) a bridge is 30 to 40 years old, it typically needs preservation work done to it.”

Projected work includes a polyester polymer concrete overlay on the bridge deck, expansion joint replacements, drainage repairs, painting, replacing bearings, anchor bolts and concrete pedestals.

It also includes sidewalk settlement repairs and substructure concrete repairs, partial fence replacement and repairs or replacement of portions of the pedestrian stairs and walkway.

Proposed lighting upgrades include replacing bulbs with LED lights and increasing the number of street lights from two to six.

No construction is expected until sometime in 2027 and it’s expected to be completed sometime the following year.

The borough has about 212 residents, according to the 2020 census.

PennDOT hosted a public discussion about the project at the Valley Veterans Association in Glenfield on March 27.

About 20 residents participated in the discussion late last month, including John Hauser, 60, of East Beaver Street.

He raised concerns about “improper” people coming on to his property during construction.

Officials said there would be an inspector onsite and residents would be provided a number for the contractor if they had any questions.

Land acquisition

PennDOT needs to take over a right of way from Allegheny County and the borough for the project. It impacts several properties along East Beaver Street.

“Everybody’s yards kind of extend into this legal right of way,” said Ethan Bailey, PennDOT chief right of way negotiator. “Landowners were concerned about the items that they had underneath the bridge. This general population here has property backing against the river. They have stored items in this legal right of way that is now becoming ours. That is a safety issue. … We understand that they like it as storage, but it is crucial to the safety of the general public that uses this road and the structure.”

The aerial easement also involves Phillips Lane. The viaduct is about 800 feet long and 24 feet wide.

At least one lane on the viaduct will be open at all times and maintained via flagging or temporary traffic signals. Exceptions will be made for emergency vehicles.

Ramp and lane closures on Route 65 southbound will be needed for some of the work.

Property owners impacted by the right of way portion of the project will be contacted by a PennDOT real estate specialist once the right of way plan is finalized.

Residents at the public discussion said they want PennDOT to maintain its new piece of property, as one woman put it, so a forest does not start growing behind their yards.

Seeley said a maintenance plan for the soon-to-be-acquired right of way has not yet been developed.

Residents also questioned the brightness and amount of the LED lights.

“There won’t be any more (lighting) than there needs to be up there,” Seeley told the crowd. He also noted the borough will be responsible for paying the electric bill.

Residents also had an opportunity to fill out comment sheets at the event as well as meet with other project leaders and go over specific parts of the preliminary plans.

Hauser said he came away from the meeting feeling like his voice was heard.

“I have no problem (with the project),” he said. “It has to be done.”

Those who could not make it to the public discussion can review the presentation and submit comments online through pa.gov.

“We got a lot of really good input today from the constituents who showed up,” Siess said. “We did get some insightful comments. When we go back and move into the final design process of the project, we’ll take a lot of these ideas and expand on them (and) look into them.

”Some of them we’ll be able to act on. Some of them may change the direction we go in, and some we just might not be able to do anything with.”

One illuminating point of the program was a surprise to Siess.

“I thought the community would be a lot more supportive of the street lighting that we were putting in because the borough itself is very supportive of that,” Siess said. “There were some people here that didn’t really feel we needed the additional street lighting. So, I was a little surprised with that.”

The final design is expected to be completed in fall 2026. Another public discussion is expected to take place sometime in the spring of 2027 before construction begins.