WEST PITTSTON – West Pittston’s Phase 1 project of new curbs, sidewalks and lighting was completed nearly two years ago and the latest in the borough’s streetscaping project is now underway.
The Luzerne Avenue project called for more than streets, sidewalks, curbs and lighting. The entire stretch from the Memorial Bridge to Wyoming Avenue was completely excavated, with the ground dug down over a foot or more before being rebuilt.
Upgrades to water and electric utilities were also made during that project.
When the project was completed in late summer 2017, Luzerne Avenue became the borough’s showpiece and possibly a look into the future of West Pittston’s infrastructure.
Over the last few months, from Luzerne Avenue north to the intersection of Wyoming and Exeter Avenues, new sidewalks, curbs and street lighting have been installed.
According to Tom Reilly Jr., of Reilly Associates in Pittston, new storm inlets that will drain into the Susquehanna River will be installed this week at the corner of Wyoming and Exeter Avenues.
Once the drainage lines are in place, sidewalks and curbing will be done, including the narrowing of Route 11 off the Kridlo Bridge, splitting off to Exeter Avenue and Wyoming Avenue. With the new landscape pattern, drivers will be allowed to enter Susquehanna Avenue from north and south.
Susquehanna Avenue, north to the West Pittston Cemetery, will be a one-way from Route 11. Vehicles will no longer be able to exit Susquehanna Avenue from the north side of the bridge onto Route 11.
The targeted completion for the new intersection is Nov. 1.
The original Phase Two streetscape plans includes curbs, sidewalks and period poles from the intersection of Wyoming and Exeter Avenues to Montgomery Avenue
“We bid the project last spring and it came in high and that project extended to Montgomery Avenue,” Reilly said. “What we did was revamped it and cut it back to just short of Luzerne Avenue and the borough got a separate grant to do the light signals at Luzerne and Montgomery with matching period poles.”
Reilly said the $500,000 grant to do the new signals at the two intersections will replace outdated signals and poles and the corner sidewalks will be completed at that time.
Once the project is approved by PennDOT, borough officials hope the light signals project will start in spring of 2020.
PennDOT will coordinate a separate project to replace any outdated handicapped ramps, including those on Montgomery Avenue and extending through Exeter and Wyoming. This project is currently out for bid.
Reilly expects new paving of Wyoming Avenue to take place in 2021.
West Pittston Borough officials are currently applying for grants to install curbs and sidewalks in the vicinity of Blue Ribbon Farm Dairy on Exeter Avenue.
Reilly said that project would be in the $1 million range.
“That area has improved a lot but the curbs and sidewalks are lacking in that area,” Reilly said. “It’s currently a dirt shoulder.”
Borough officials hope to hear by the end of the year if their grant application for the project will be accepted.
