A state road linking Sewickley Heights and Edgeworth boroughs that has been closed for nearly six years has reopened.
Way Hollow Road was shut down Jan. 24, 2020, due to a series of landslides that disrupted the critical thoroughfare for both communities and the Sewickley area.
Local and state officials, as well as engineer,s spent a long time devising a plan to remediate the area.
A $4.1 million reconstruction project launched in March, with Allison Park Construction crews working on behalf of PennDOT.
Repairs included “micro-piles” within the roadway, reinforced soil slopes in landslide areas, drainage improvements and new paving.
Work was completed early this month and the road was reopened following a state inspection on Nov. 6.
“It’s been a long time coming, and it’s going to free up a safe passage up and down the hill, especially in the wintertime,” Sewickley Heights Borough Manager Nathan Briggs said on Nov. 11. “It’s a more gradual hill (and) safer turns.”
The boroughs will take ownership of the road for operation and maintenance as part of the state’s Turnback program.
“Roads are good candidates for being transferred from state to local ownership if not many vehicles use them every day (and/or) they help the local area socially and economically,” according to PennDOT’s website.
Communities that take over a road will be given a yearly stipend of $4,000 per mile to help with maintenance, according to program regulations.
It’s unclear how much Sewickley Heights and Edgeworth would be eligible for.
Officials from both communities are excited about the road reopening.
“Most of the work on the Edgeworth portion of the road was related to water drainage and pavement restoration,” Edgeworth Borough Manager Ellen Politi said on Nov. 12. “We are pleased with the repairs, and happy that the road is officially reopened.
“It has been a long process, several years in the making, and it’s great to see the final result. We have no concerns with taking over ownership and maintenance on the road.”
There are 10 homes along the Edgeworth portion of the road. Its council planned to formally accept the road on Nov. 18.
There are three houses along the Sewickley Heights section. Its council planned to accept the road on Nov. 17.
The two major detours during the closure were Backbone Road by the Sewickley Valley YMCA in Sewickley into Sewickley Heights and the top of Way Hollow Road, or from Chestnut Street in Edgeworth to Persimmon Road in Sewickley Heights.
Briggs thanked state Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) and state Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-Bridgeville) for working behind the scenes and supporting the project.
He said getting into PennDOT’s Turnback program was crucial to having the road repaired.
“This was owned by the state and closed due to landslide conditions,” Briggs said. “They had to find the right pot of money. The goal from the beginning was to work with PennDOT to develop the repair solution so we didn’t have concerns it would fail in another five years.”
Briggs also expressed confidence in the borough covering its part of Way Hollow Road maintenance in the future.
