Fox Chapel and O’Hara officials recently approved this year’s paving projects.
Both communities authorized contracts with Bakerstown-based Shields Asphalt Paving. The company was the lowest of six bidders for a joint project that included Fox Chapel, O’Hara, Blawnox and the Fox Chapel Authority.
Larry Kurpakus, director of public works for Fox Chapel, said the entities joined forces to get a better deal on road repairs.
“We’ve found there’s some economies of scale,” he said April 22. “It’s a larger project. We’re able to get more competitive pricing. Fox Chapel Authority’s work is typically in the borough, patching from waterline improvements.”
The communities also all use Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, which makes the collaboration even easier, said Fox Chapel’s borough manager, Gary Koehler, on April 22.
Construction is expected to begin mid-June and be completed in the fall, weather permitting.
Fox Chapel’s contract
Fox Chapel Council unanimously voted April 21 to award an estimated $1.357 million contract to repair 13 streets.
The borough budgeted $1.5 million for paving this year.
“Unspent budgeted funds are reserved for the future and used for budgeted expense line items that are over budget or to assist with revenue line items that come in under budget,” Koehler said. “These options will be determined during the 2026 budget process.”
Roads on the paving list include:
• Twin Pine Road
• Twin Pine Court
• Meadowood Drive
• Rutledge Drive
• Evergreen Road
• Nantucket Drive
• Settlers Ridge Road
• Deer Spring Lane
• Poplar Drive
• Trillium Lane
• Woodland Farms Road
• Woodland Farms Court
• Long Meadow Drive
Kurpakus said roads are evaluated on an annual basis and the ones that need the most work move up on the list. Finances also are considered.
“We build the road program around the available budget funding,” Kurpakus said. “We try to maximize the length of road based on what we have for budgeting.
“We have a capital improvement plan. We attempt to stay on schedule with our road repaving. Each year requires a review of the roads that are in-line with the age of the road for repaving. In some instances, some roads degrade faster than others. They’ll be moved up on the list if necessary. We’d like to look at somewhere between the 10- and 15-year-mark (to repave a road). Condition of the road really has an impact on priorities.”
Public works crews will handle a variety of stormwater management projects, including catch basin repairs and upgrading inlets, before construction.
Fox Chapel has invested at least $1.5 million in each of the past few years for road repairs.
“By investing in the maintenance now on the roads, it’s going to be a long-term savings on the residents,” Kurpakus said. “It’s less expensive to do a minor repair on a road than it would be to do a major reconstruction because it hadn’t been maintained in many years.”
Shields Paving was awarded the 2023 joint paving contract.
O’Hara’s contract
O’Hara Council approved an estimated $1.122 million road repair contract on April 8.
The township budgeted $1.2 million for paving this year.
Township engineer Charles Steinert said there will be no leftover funds because of engineering and inspection costs in connection with the 16 streets to be paved.
“These roads have been scheduled based on their condition,” Steinert said April 22. “I do an annual review of the roads and decide which ones must be repaved and which ones can be postponed.”
O’Hara roads to be repaired are:
• Colquitt Drive
• Orchard Hill Drive
• Lower Road
• Winchell Street
• Murray Street
• Short Street
• Ann Street
• Mary Street
• St. Charles Place
• Woodmont Drive
• Neilson Avenue
• Timber Court
• Timber Ridge Road
• Highmeadow Drive
• Kerr Lane
• West Waldheim Drive
Blawnox Council unanimously voted April 9 to award its estimated $143,700 paving project. Shields will be paving North Avenue sometime this summer.