New Public Works facility in Pittsburgh's South Hills won't be ready in time for this winter

A new Public Works facility that was supposed to bring snow plows, road salt and other supplies to Pittsburgh’s South Hills neighborhoods won’t be ready in time for this winter.

The facility has been delayed repeatedly. The project has been in the works for more than six years, but has been slowed by pandemic-related supply chain issues and the discovery of an unknown mineshaft at the proposed facility site.

Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, said the new goal is to have the facility ready for next winter.

Coghill’s City Council district includes hilly neighborhoods such as Brookline, Beechview, Carrick, Bon Air, Overbrook and part of Mt. Washington. Snow removal has been a major problem in the district for years, with residents complaining that they often wait days after a snow storm to see a salt truck or snow plow.

The proposed facility, to be built near McKinley Park, has been touted as a solution, bringing plows and equipment closer to the neighborhoods.

“I could not have imagined this would take six and a half years,” Coghill said. “There’s been so many excuses and reasons for the delays. There are no excuses from here on out. We jumped over all those hurdles.”

He said the city is selecting a contractor, and he’s hoping work will begin on the site this winter so the facility will be fully operational ahead of the next winter season.

Coghill said he’s hoping his district will be able to “squeak by” this winter. He said additional snow plows will be in place compared to prior years, and Public Works plans to boost staffing to try to improve snow response.

Still, Coghill said, “I anticipate issues this year.”

Salt boxes were put in place “pretty much at every steep hill” so residents can take salt and salt the roads by hand themselves, he said.

The National Weather Service is forecasting that the Pittsburgh region will likely see a milder winter than usual.

Related:

• https://triblive.com/local/south-hills/new-public-works-facility-wont-be-ready-to-help-pittsburghs-south-hills-neighborhoods-this-winter/
• New public works facility won't be ready to help Pittsburgh's South Hills neighborhoods this winter

• https://triblive.com/local/pittsburghers-skeptical-of-mayors-road-snow-removal-goals/