After years of delays, the renovation of Low Grade Road appears to be around the corner.
The traffic artery, jointly owned by Harmar, Cheswick and Springdale Township, is set to receive work this summer.
Construction bids will be sought, and a contract will be awarded by the Allegheny County North Council of Governments.
Low Grade Road has been plagued by potholes and drainage problems for years. Work on it was delayed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Harmar Engineer Matthew Pitsch said the work is expected to be done in August or September.
The three municipalities share maintenance duties for the road, used by residents, employees of Curtiss Wright Company and motorists seeking a connector between Freeport Road and the Route 28 expressway.
The project received a $250,000 grant from gaming proceeds in late November 2019, two months before the pandemic hit.
Harmar supervisors Chairman Bob Seibert indicated the township’s public work crew was set to patch Harmar’s end of the road with asphalt on Friday.
Other Harmar projects
Pitsch said work is slated to begin soon on a sewer pipe lining project in the Acmetonia section of the township.
Insituform, based in Chesterfield, Mo., was awarded a $126,000 contract. The money was provided by the Pennsylvania Small Water & Sewer fund.
Also, the township will consider buying a pump station that serves the Highland Woods neighborhood.
The township currently leases the pump at $2,563 per month, and Harmar eventually would save money by buying it.
A new pump will cost $40,000, and a used model will cost about $31,500. Supervisors are expected to act on the proposed purchase on April 21.
Officials still are working on settling the sewage backflow problems plaguing the Chapel Downs neighborhood.
Three external and five internal backflow preventers are needed and are expected to cost in the $16,000 range.
The township will seek bids from three plumbers to install the backflow preventers, and supervisors are expected to act on the proposal April 21.
After the backflow preventers are bought, Pitsch will schedule installation with the affected homeowners.