PennDOT Preparing to Repave Route 50

The state Department of Transportation will be resurfacing Route 50 during the summer months, and two municipalities along that stretch will probably be required to pay for slight improvements to make the sidewalk curbs handicap accessible.

Both Heidelberg and Scott Township held workshop meetings Tuesday night and discussed financing the sidewalk ramps to ease accessibility for people with disabilities.

Heidelberg would likely pay about $5,000 for the work, and the borough is also requesting to meet with PennDOT officials so the repaving of Route 50 does not impact plans for the upcoming streetscape renovations.

Meanwhile, commissioners in Scott Township agreed to spend about $6,700 to make the curbs at Hope Hollow Road and Hope Street compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The commissioners said they did not set aside money in the 2011 budget for the work, but would prefer to alter the sidewalk curbs now because PennDOT is paying for the majority of the costs.

PennDOT officials expect the project to cost about $5 million and will take place from June until November. Work on the four miles of roadway - from Chartiers Valley Shopping Center to Boden Avenue in Scott – will be done during the weekend and off-peak hours.

“Route 50 is very rutted,” said Dan Cessna, executive of PennDOT's District 11. “Resurfacing this year after the winter is our primary concern.”

Also during the meetings…

-Scott Township is now accepting applications for part-time workers to help within the Department of Public Works during the summer. Applications must be sent to the township office by April 22, and each of the nine commissioners will choose a person to begin work in late May.

-The township’s safety day will be held June 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.