Cheswick, Harmar, Springdale Township team up for Low Grade Road improvements

Officials from Harmar, Cheswick and Springdale Township are teaming up to apply for grant money to improve a road that goes through the three municipalities.

Officials are applying for a nearly $550,000 Gaming and Economic Development Fund grant to pave the entire length of Low Grade Road.

Harmar Engineer Matt Pitsch of Senate Engineering said the nearly 1-mile road hasn’t seen any improvements since the early 2000s. Officials also applied for the grant last year but were denied.

Bob Seibert, Harmar supervisor’s chairman, said the three municipalities also partnered in 2006 to receive grant money for the road.

“In the current condition, it’s pretty rough,” Seibert said.

Pitsch said the road sees a lot of semi-truck traffic because two manufacturing facilities are located along the road.

Seibert said he’s happy to be working with Cheswick and Springdale Township to get the project done.

“It’s always great to work with your neighbors,” he said.

Seibert said the project will include clearing trees and working on drainage along the road in addition to paving it.

Harmar officials are also seeking a Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Road grant for work on Dremmel Road. They completed a drainage project on the road two years ago, Pitsch said.

The grant would be for $73,100 with a township match of $43,000, bringing the total project cost to $116,100.

The work on both roads would be done next year if the grants are approved.