Stormwater project closes Kittanning Street through early March

A stormwater project along Kittanning Street in Etna finally is underway after multiple hiccups delayed the work.

The PennDOT project includes gas line relocation and drainage upgrades between Snyder and Greismere streets, and requires a portion of Kittanning Street to be closed around-the-clock to through traffic.

Construction is expected to last through March 5.

The closure impacts not only Etna residents but those in O’Hara who use Kittanning Street to connect with Dorseyville Road and beyond.

“There have been so many delays between water line breaks, unmarked gas lines and a few issues with the new catch basins,” Etna manager Mary Ellen Ramage said. “It has been difficult.”

Ramage said troubles began after last year’s paving along Kittanning Street, which is a state road.

Crews were able to pinpoint the source of the road issues to stormwater runoff. Paving was diverting stormwater and causing the road to deteriorate, she said.

Only local traffic and emergency vehicles will be allowed to use the road throughout the project.

Suggested detours include using Sharps Hill Road into the Parkview section of O’Hara and then onto Main Street in Sharpsburg to connect to Route 8 back to Kittanning Street.

From Route 28, motorists would take the ramp to northbound Route 8 and use Butler and Bridge streets in Etna to connect to Sharpsburg where they can wind up Kittanning Pike and onto Sharps Hills Road.

In other news:

Residents who use mass transit are encouraged to tune into a series of online public meetings by the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

The Port Authority is preparing its NEXTransit study, the long-range planning effort to determine improvements over the next 25 years. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Feb. 25 and 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 2.

For more, visit nextransit.network.