Fixing a Crumbling Eyesore

Bridgeville is working to get grant money in hopes of replacing the stone barrier between Bower Hill Road and McLaughlin Run stream.

Part of the barrier was washed away seven years ago when the remnants of Hurricane Ivan flooded McLaughlin Run and numerous other area waterways.

The borough installed several jersey barriers along that portion of Bower Hill Road to protect motorists and pedestrians. Borough Manager Lori Collins said the barriers are solid, but not aesthetically pleasing.

“The jersey barriers are about as secure as that wall,” Collins said. “But it’s an eyesore and we need to upgrade the sidewalks.”

Bridgeville Borough Council voted during its Monday night meeting to apply for $61,545 in grant money from the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development. There is no timeline on when the borough will learn if it receives a grant to fix the area.

Collins said it’s especially important to fix the sidewalks because they are in poor shape.

“Those sidewalks are horrendous,” she said. “I don’t know if public works can take care of that, but something will have to be done.”

Also during the meeting…

• The McLaughlin Run Road bridge replacement project is continuing and is expected to be finished in September or October.

• Saturday’s Goodwill electronic recycling event at the Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Department filled two 24-foot-long containers and netted about three tons worth of equipment. Councilman Michael Chiodo said he would like to see a similar event that recycled old tires or toxic paint.

• The borough will apply for nearly $30,000 in grant money from the county to upgrade the streetlights along Washington Avenue. Officials had hoped to bundle the improvements into the streetscape project, but the costs became too expensive.

• The deadline for submissions to next quarter’s borough newsletter is July 11.