But today, I just HAVE to share something with all my Main Line pals that has truly brightened this grey, rainy mess of a day; a little article of wonderfulness that I believe some people will be truly excited about...
Now I know some of you may not share in my gratefulness, but let's just put it into perspective: You have this awesome way to get to work, a perfect little back-road route straight to your office that gives you that extra 10 minutes in your day to play Angry Birds/<insert name of time-wasting phone app here>. And all of a sudden, that daily convenience is taken away from you. And you literally turn into an Angry Bird. This is why this article causes my heart to do a little happy dance.
Read on... and take note on how ridiculous the article makes PennDOT look...if nothing else, read it for a chuckle....
Sugartown Road bridge completion by Dec. 2
Monday, November 14, 2011
By Alan Thomas
athomas@mainlinemedianews.com
PennDOT’s Sugartown Road bridge project in Easttown Township has been stalled, going nowhere. There has been a weeks-long wait for guide rails, and, more recently, a new question of how to anchor them.
A notice on the Easttown Township Web site says that, “The bridge project on Sugartown Road is a PennDOT project on a PennDOT road; the township is not involved in any way and has no control over the project’s progress or completion.”
The township notice goes on to explain that the township was informed “on Nov. 8 that there is a utility conflict in anchoring new guiderails. A PECO electric and gas line, a Verizon telecommunications line and a storm sewer pipe are apparently in the way.”
PECO representatives said Monday that the problem has been that “the utilities were shown to be in different locations [and that the contractor] can’t drive posts [for the guiderail support].”
The solution will be to mount two of the guiderail supports on concrete slabs for the necessary stability, and that the project will now be completed by Friday, Dec. 2.
According to Easttown Township assistant manager Mike Brown the township has been getting phone calls, “three or four a day.” The bridge, except for the guiderails, was completed six weeks ago, ahead of schedule according to PennDOT, but people have not seen any activity because there’s nothing else left to do except for installing the guiderails and final paving.
Motorists who use Sugartown Road have been following a detour that takes them to Route 30 for eastward or westward travel between Berwyn and Devon since the project began in July. The bridge crosses a tributary of Darby Creek.
Brown said “The township is taking the delay seriously, but it’s not the township’s project. We’re being as helpful as we can.”
Easttown supervisor Fred Pioggia said he wondered why PennDOT had not “physically located the utility lines” before the project began, which he said was “Building 101.” He termed the delay “inconvenient” for township residents, but also said that the nearly completed job is “neat – it looks beautiful, looks great.”
Brown said he had talked to the “top executive at PennDOT’s District 6 headquarters in King of Prussia most recently on Friday night.
The answer to the question came Monday afternoon.
A notice on the Easttown Township Web site says that, “The bridge project on Sugartown Road is a PennDOT project on a PennDOT road; the township is not involved in any way and has no control over the project’s progress or completion.”
The township notice goes on to explain that the township was informed “on Nov. 8 that there is a utility conflict in anchoring new guiderails. A PECO electric and gas line, a Verizon telecommunications line and a storm sewer pipe are apparently in the way.”
PECO representatives said Monday that the problem has been that “the utilities were shown to be in different locations [and that the contractor] can’t drive posts [for the guiderail support].”
The solution will be to mount two of the guiderail supports on concrete slabs for the necessary stability, and that the project will now be completed by Friday, Dec. 2.
According to Easttown Township assistant manager Mike Brown the township has been getting phone calls, “three or four a day.” The bridge, except for the guiderails, was completed six weeks ago, ahead of schedule according to PennDOT, but people have not seen any activity because there’s nothing else left to do except for installing the guiderails and final paving.
Motorists who use Sugartown Road have been following a detour that takes them to Route 30 for eastward or westward travel between Berwyn and Devon since the project began in July. The bridge crosses a tributary of Darby Creek.
Brown said “The township is taking the delay seriously, but it’s not the township’s project. We’re being as helpful as we can.”
Easttown supervisor Fred Pioggia said he wondered why PennDOT had not “physically located the utility lines” before the project began, which he said was “Building 101.” He termed the delay “inconvenient” for township residents, but also said that the nearly completed job is “neat – it looks beautiful, looks great.”
Brown said he had talked to the “top executive at PennDOT’s District 6 headquarters in King of Prussia most recently on Friday night.
The answer to the question came Monday afternoon.
