When a South Buffalo Township contractor’s crew finishes installing a large waterline under part of Carl Avenue in New Kensington, officials will have a decision to make: How and when to finally pave a stretch of Carl Avenue that normally is a popular shortcut between Tarentum Bridge and Craigdell roads.
The short section of residential street is used by drivers who don’t want to wait for the traffic light at the intersection of Tarentum Bridge and Leechburg roads.
Increased traffic, bad weather and heavy trucks have turned the street into a rutted and patched mess. Even so, neighbors say impatient drivers speed well past the 25 mph speed limit, making it dangerous, too.
This week, the waterline trench work disrupted rush-hour traffic trying to use Carl Avenue.
Work to replace the waterline is taking longer than it normally would because a natural gas line had to be relocated before the 1,000 feet of waterline could be replaced.
The line also is buried very deep in that area and the soil has a high clay content, making it difficult to manage.
Because of the soil issue, New Kensington’s municipal authority hired BCIV of South Buffalo to handle the waterline replacement because the company has more experience dealing with deep clay soil.
This week, Ed Saliba Jr., the authority’s assistant superintendent for distribution, said the authority obtained a $100,000 grant for the waterline installation.
The work is expected to take more than a week, Saliba said.
Bill Cadamore Sr., who owns BCIV with his son, said he couldn’t give an estimated completion date.
However, the company has been working since Monday and it’s now moving toward Craigdell Road.
After the large-diameter waterline is installed and the trench covered, city officials will decide how and when to repave the road.
