CRESSONA — Residents are grateful that one road is repaired and look forward to another.
“Great job,” Cressona Borough Council President James Johns said Thursday about Wilder Street, which reopened Wednesday to traffic.
Council member Bob Barr also approved of the work.
“It should relieve some of the traffic from Pottsville Street,” he said Thursday.
J.D. Eckman Inc., Atglen, Chester County, was awarded the $2,527,250 project Oct. 3, 2016. The street has been closed to traffic since Feb. 13 after a truck route detour was put in place Jan. 10.
A retaining wall within the state Department of Transportation’s right of way failed, prompting the closure. A waterline was relocated because of the work.
Derek Snyder, who lives on Wilder Street, had to park at a school nearby when the construction was taking place. He was thankful he can once again park his car in his driveway.
“It’s a lot more convenient,” he said.
Joe Evans, Cressona, who lives on Railroad Street, also was happy, although he isn’t pleased with the condition of the 100 block of Railroad Street. Orange construction fencing and white lines indicate the areas where the road gave way years ago. He called the area “an eyesore.”
In July 2015, The Republican-Herald reported on the collapse of the road section, which has not yet been repaired. And signs saying the road is closed to thru traffic on either side of the road do little to deter motorists, Evans said.
Johns said the borough has received preliminary cost estimates from its engineer for those repairs. A wall and associated costs could be between $200,000 and $300,000 — something the borough can’t afford at this time, he said.
“We don’t have that money to repair that non-used road.” Johns said.
He said the council is trying to look at different ways to address the problem.
“We are trying to get it down to a point where we can pay for it,” Johns said.
He said the borough receives liquid fuels funds but only has so much to use. If the borough were to build a wall in the area, it would likely encroach on railroad property and would require permission from the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad Co.
Johns said it is not likely the road will be fixed this year.
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