close

Overnight work approved for Columbia Gas projects in Peters Township

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
article image -

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania has received authorization to work overnight in three Peters Township locations.

Township council on Feb. 25 agreed to allow for work to occur from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday on a stretch of Route 19 from Donaldson’s Crossroads to Waterdam Road, also including parts of East McMurray and West McMurray roads, and farther north on Route 19 between Braun Drive and the entrances to South Hills Kia and South Hills Honda.

Source: Peters Township

The third applicable area is on Bebout Road, from Orchard Hilands Drive to Valleybrook Road.

Columbia Gas received Pennsylvania Department of Transportation permits to work during the night and early morning on state roads. Work on township roads, side streets and within private easements will be performed between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Part of the work addresses a section that the gas company began in late April but did not complete by the end of the construction season, according to township manager Paul Lauer. The project, as announced last year by Columbia, involves the replacement of more than 14,000 feet of underground pipe along streets including Route 19, East McMurray Road and Center Church Road.

Lauer expressed reservations about overnight work on Bebout Road, as did some council members, because of its proximity to residences.

“We know that this isn’t necessarily a quiet operation. When they were along East McMurray working at night, they had the misfortune of hitting rock,” Lauer said, with a corresponding increase in the decibel level to address the situation.

Source: Peters Township

Meanwhile, some 6,500 vehicles travel on Bebout Road daily.

“I don’t know what the right answer is there, because either you’re going to inconvenience everyone who drives through there during the day or you’re going to have people who can’t sleep at night,” Frank Kosir Jr., council chairman, said.

Bebout Road resident Ronald Boocks gave his opinion that overnight work would be preferable.

“They can probably get it done sooner, without interruptions,” he told council.

He also suggested that Bebout be closed between Sugar Camp and Valley Brook roads while work is in progress, and Lauer agreed.

“I think it might expedite the process. We can leave it up to PennDOT as to whether or not they’re willing to allow that to occur,” Lauer said. “There would have to be detours posted. But it seems to me it would have the effect of moving that project along quicker.”

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today