Oakmont retaining wall beautification project to be completed by October
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A retaining wall beautification project along Allegheny River Boulevard near the Oakmont and Verona border might be completed within a few weeks.
Apollo-based Santamaria Landscaping crews began their effort to restore the wall near the viaduct between the two boroughs in July.
Senate Engineering Senior Inspector David Hodges was at the wall Aug. 24. He said he expects work to be done by October or earlier, weather permitting.
“Things are progressing along normally, and we’re making good progress,” Hodges said. “Bear with the traffic and please slow down.”
Construction signs and traffic cones are used in the morning through late afternoon to help motorists navigate the site. Traffic restrictions are in place Mondays through Fridays.
Traffic headed into Verona passes between the rows of cones while traffic into Oakmont is reduced to one lane close to the sidewalk. The speed limit is 25 mph.
Hodges said some motorists went by around 40 mph or faster. Police could issue speeding tickets, and fines are doubled in work zones.
Oakmont officials budgeted about $180,000 for the project, including a $138,000 state Department of Community and Economic Development grant. It’s a matching grant with the borough covering about $41,000.
Bid specifications were based on September 2018 evaluations, and workers discovered more repairs were needed to the 20-foot concrete sections.
“The conditions are a little worse,” Hodges said about the two winters before the project started having taken their toll.
Council awarded the project to Santamaria in July 2019. They were the lowest of five bidders at $121,000.
The project now is expected to cost closer to the full budgeted amount because of the additional repair work.
Crews finished about 130 feet of the wall’s top section with about 80 feet remaining. They will continue to break away loose concrete, reform it and eventually paint the wall.
Councilwoman Carrie DelRosso wrote the grant on behalf of the borough and recently took a look at the project.
“Senate Engineering has been working to make sure the project stays within budget, managing time and material,” DelRosso said. “The end product will be a patched and painted, capped wall without crumbling. I am proud to see a safe and effective project underway to enhance the south entrance of Oakmont.”
The wall is owned by Allegheny Valley Railroad.
DelRosso said the company declined to spend money on the beautification project.