Latrobe officials hope protective netting will allow the Weldon Street parking garage entrance to reopen after being closed for months because of crumbling concrete.

That entrance and sidewalk were closed last fall after contractor Pullman Services ran into more concrete damage than expected while making major repairs.

The garage is not in danger of collapsing, but it developed deteriorating concrete — particularly in a cantilever on the exterior of the building, Councilman Robert Forish stressed. Access has been limited to the Spring Street entrance.

“Water can get in there and freeze and crack and cause pieces of concrete to fall off,” Forish said.

City manager Michael Gray said he will seek advice from Latrobe’s engineering consultant, Gibson-Thomas, on long-term options for repairing the damage — likely in 2021, since there is no money available for the project in this year’s budget. The cost would be in addition to the initial work Pullman completed under a $68,692 contract approved in June.

Councilman Jim Kelley noted refinancing bonds to pay for the extra work isn’t possible until next year, after the bonds mature.

Gray suggested temporary netting or covering as an option to look at this year. He said the city could obtain the netting at no cost, other than the labor of city crews to install it.

Forish said it’s important to restore the garage access for summer festivities that draw visitors to downtown Latrobe, including the annual Fourth of July celebration and the Great American Banana Split Celebration in August.

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