Sewickley to pave 7 streets, restore some Chadwick Street bricks

Sewickley officials this fall plan to do the first brick restoration project in at least five years and spend about $432,500 to pave seven roads.

Council voted 8-0 Aug. 12 to award an estimated $55,100 project to Donora-based El Grande Industries, the lowest of four bidders, to fix the bricks along Chadwick Street. Councilwoman Anne Willoughby was absent.

Borough Engineer Mike Galet said work includes removing bricks from the crosswalks at Chadwick Park and using them to repair the street.

The crosswalks would then be repaved with concrete.

Council President Cynthia Mullins said portions of Chadwick Street had become so deteriorated that “speed dips” have formed, causing driving concerns.

“We’d like to preserve the brick street to the extent that we can,” Mullins said.

It has been years since any brickwork was done in the borough.

Galet said such projects have become less frequent in general, and it can be difficult to find companies that do those kinds of repairs.

“We weren’t sure logistically what the costs were going to be,” Galet said. “This is going to be a pilot program, and we couldn’t find extra brick. Those were our two challenges.”

Work is expected to begin in the fall and be done by the end of the year.

Council also voted 8-0 this month to award its 2025 paving project to Wampum-based Youngblood Paving. The deal is for about $377,500 to pave seven streets.

Roads to be repaired include:

• The upper portion of Crescent Avenue.

• Straight Street, from Beaver Street to Centennial Avenue.

• Cherry Way, from Harbaugh to Thorn streets.

• Division Street, from Beaver to Chestnut streets.

• River Avenue, from Chadwick Street to Ohio River Boulevard.

• Little Street, from Henry Avenue to Rose Alley.

• Grimes Street, from Beaver Street to Centennial Avenue.

Youngblood Paving was the lowest of four bidders. Work is expected to begin in the fall and be completed by the end of the year.

The borough budgeted $700,000 for paving this year.

Mullins said that has become the standard allocation for the past few years as the borough works on maintaining its aging infrastructure.

“I think it’s real beneficial to be on top of it every year,” Mullins said. “Roads are like old houses. They are always deteriorating.”

Roads are reviewed annually by the engineer and other borough officials and prioritized for repairs based on condition.

El Grande was awarded last year’s paving project. Youngblood was awarded the paving program in 2023.

“They’re both good candidates for the work that they are performing,” Galet said.

In other business

• Council heard concerns from a resident and youth baseball coach about the ballfields at Chadwick Park.

He said some bumps and divots make the playing area unpredictable and unsafe.

The coach talked about ground balls that have popped up in front of players and other coaches’ faces.

Mullins encouraged the coach to submit proposals to the borough manager and the parks and recreation committee with their thoughts on how to best fix the field.

• Council approved a request from Sewickley Valley YMCA to close a number of roads for its ninth annual Turkey Trot from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Nov. 27.

The roads that will be closed are: Blackburn Road to Centennial Avenue; Centennial Avenue to Boundary Street; Boundary Street to Thorn Street; Thorn Street to Academy Avenue; Academy Avenue to Centennial Avenue; and Centennial Avenue to Blackburn Road.

• Council approved a request by the Sons of Italy to close Division Street from Hegner Way to Locust Street from noon-9 p.m. Sept. 13 for a street picnic.