Reconstruction of Third Street wall in Leechburg expected to start in April or May
Share this post:
A new wall reconstruction project on Third Street in Leechburg is underway.
Borough engineer Shane Michael said portions of the wall on Third Street are collapsing in some places.
“It’s 260 feet long, and we’re replacing about 150 feet of the wall,” Michael said.
Council opened six contract bids Tuesday. They ranged from an apparent low bid of about $193,500 from Arch Masonry Restoration to a high bid of just over $408,000 from Kishmo Inc. Some included alternative bids to cover additional work.
“This is good news,” Michael said. “I have at least two bids that came in competitively within our budget.”
Holbine Inc. submitted the second-lowest bid, a little over $203,000.
The contractor is expected to be hired at council’s Feb. 16 meeting.
Michael said the project will be funded by a $199,000 PennDOT multimodal transportation grant awarded last year.
The borough will cover remaining project costs.
Crews will remove the old wall, footers and foundations that Michael said have suffered extensive water damage.
Michael said the project should start in April or May and take about three months to complete. The borough will try to keep Third Street open as much as possible during the work.
Crews worked Tuesday and Wednesday to remove two large trees and grind stumps in preparation for the gas line at the site, which will be moved sometime in February.
Third Street is expected to remain closed until Friday.
Betty Adams, 61, lives on Third Street. She doesn’t mind the inconvenience or noise associated with the project.
She said her basement frequently takes on water that gushes through the retaining wall when it rains and her birdbath was knocked over from water rushing down from Third Street.
“This is long overdue, and we went to some meetings to complain about the problem, and the borough has been good about this. I don’t care that it’s a mess now because I know it will make it better,” Adams said. “We’ve lived here 16 years and love Leechburg.”
In other business
• Mayor Wayne Dobos submitted to council $261 in parking ticket collections from December.
• The borough wants to hire a part-time office clerk for about 25 hours weekly, at a rate of $10.50 per hour. They will be replacing Toni Rupert, who is stepping down July 31. Council said the job will be advertised on the borough Facebook page.
• Council president Tom Foster informed council a big pine tree has been removed from Fraley Park on Market Street after large branches broke off and hit a car.