Construction of Valley High School pedestrian bridges continues

Plans are underway to complete construction of the two pedestrian bridges over Pucketa Creek at Valley High School. Initial school board approval occurred in October 2023.

These bridges served as the main pedestrian access to the school from its student parking lot. Students have been using alternate building entrances during the construction.

A project to refurbish and repair the main entrance bridge was finished in 2022.

The school board approved $321,362 last August for Coury Construction of Lower Burrell to build concrete stairs, a ramp, walkway and sidewalks for the bridges.

Other bids were made from J. Palumbo-Encompass Building for just over $380,000 and Ligonier Construction for a little more than $500,000. The bridges, themselves, are finished but require the additional work by Coury before they can be used.

“We are optimistic that we will open them by the start of school, as all materials have been received and the final prints of the ADA compliant ramp are complete,” said Chris S. Sefcheck, superintendent of the New Kensington-Arnold School District.

The first day of school for Valley High School is Aug. 20.

He said the delays in opening the bridges were because blueprint specifications for the ADA ramp were modified. They then had to be shared with the contractor in order to complete the concrete work.

“Nothing has changed financially, even though the project didn’t start until 2024,” he added.

The district already spent about $476,000 on the bridges, Business Manager Jeff McVey told TribLive last year.

Adding the latest contract with Coury takes the cost to almost $789,000. That’s about 5% over the district’s year-old $750,000 budget for the project, which McVey said is acceptable.