Politics & Government

Sewickley To Seek Repairs to Brick Roads

Council members say utility companies at fault for not restoring the roads to their original condition.

After hearing complaints from Sewickley resident Peter Floyd about the condition of Walnut Street, Councilwoman Carole Ford agreed to walk with him along the street over the weekend to see the problem up close.

Ford told council Monday night that she’s driven the road numerous times and that the little waves here and there hadn’t bother her. But standing outside her car recently and seeing gaps, unmatched brick and other aesthetic issues was an entirely different experience. Ford said she didn't like what she saw.

“When I walked it, I have to say they have not done a good job whatsoever … it is pretty bad,” she said.

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, of Elwick Street, shared the same frustrations with council Monday over what he deemed as shoddy brick-road repairs by utility companies.

He said repairs that Columbia Gas Co. in particular made to Walnut Street more than a year ago did not leave the road properly restored to its original condition. Floyd passed around photos that showed a section of Walnut at the Parish entrance, where he said  bricks have "migrated," measuring a 1-inch gap between several of the bricks.

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“Folks, this is not rocket science to fix the street,” he said. He recommended that the borough tighten up routine road inspections and never waive permit fees.

Council passed an ordinance in May establishing additional requirements for the repair of brick streets. Sewickley has a mix of paved and brick streets, such as Chadwick Street, which is nearly 100 years old.

Councilman Stan Ference said repairing brick road is much costlier than paving, but he said paved roads have to be replaced every 10 to 12 years, while brick roads in the borough have lasted nearly a century. The brick on Chadwick , for instance, was installed in the 1930s, he said. Ference raised a question of economics: Which is more cost effective, brick or paved roads?

“It’s cheaper initially to do the paving, but you’ve got to do it a number of times in the lifespan of the brick street,” Ference said.

Ference said perhaps the borough wouldn’t be having issues with the brick streets if the repairs were done better.

Ford said the majority of brick road problems in town are from repairs utility companies make after opening streets for excavation work.

“They didn’t do a good job,” Councilman William Cornman agreed, after seeing the photos.

Council President Bob Hague, who joined the meeting by telephone, said the borough was aware of the issues and, while it won't happen overnight, it was working to make it better.

Borough Manager Kevin Flannery said the utility repair holes will be addressed.

“We will work with the utility to make sure they get the repairs done,” Flannery said.


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