Sewickley officials seek $3 million grant for multi-phase project

Sewickley officials hope to obtain a $3 million state grant to bolster some major reconstruction along Crescent Avenue.

Council voted 7-0 Tuesday night to apply for Commonwealth Financing Authority money through its Multimodal Transportation Fund for a multi-phased transportation improvement project. Council members Thomas Rostek and Anne Willoughby were absent.

Borough officials hope to have a response to their application by the end of the year. There is no borough match required for the money.

The project includes replacing a retaining wall, road resurfacing and fixing stormwater drainage issues.

Council opted in May to focus on the retaining wall first and postpone any paving on the steeply sloped road.

Borough engineer Mike Galet said at the time that the wall replacement is expected to drain nearly all of the borough’s paving funds.

The borough budgeted about $600,000 for paving this year. The wall replacement is expected to cost around $500,000.

“They recognize this is a high-priority project,” Galet said after the May meeting. “At this point, this isn’t considered an emergency repair, but it’s to the point (council) wants to do some repairs.”

Council this month authorized the wall project to be advertised. Bids are expected to be accepted and opened later this year.

“This is a phased project,” council president Cynthia Mullins said Wednesday. “The first phase is to redesign and refurbish the wall that is holding up that slope. We have very steep slopes in that part of the borough.”

Other Crescent Avenue repairs are planned for 2023 and 2024.

Mullins said the overall project may impact nearby Dickson Street and Nevin Avenue.