Contract for bridge repair at Valley High School awarded

The New Kensington-Arnold School Board has accepted a $358,000 bid to repair one of four bridges that cross over Little Pucketa Creek at Valley High School.

The bid from Caliber Contracting Services of Edgewood was the only one received for work on the main entrance bridge. The bid was opened at the administration building on Sept. 15.

The board awarded the contract when it met Oct. 12. The regular monthly meeting had been postponed to that date from Oct. 5 because not enough members were present for the meeting to be held.

The bridge project is expected to be the main topic of discussion at an upcoming meeting of the board’s buildings and grounds committee, chaired by board member Steven Sorch.

The committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Oct. 27 in the board room at the high school. The meeting will also be available virtually on Zoom; information for joining the virtual meeting will be available on the district’s website, nkasd.com, the day of the meeting.

Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said the committee is expected to discuss when the work will start, and how vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be detoured while work is underway.

There’s a 2-ton weight limit on the main entrance bridge, which dates to the original construction of the school in the 1950s. Work will include replacing its main supports and metal deck, along with repairs to the concrete sidewalk.

In addition to the bridge, the committee will also discuss repairs to the swimming pool at the high school and other building repair projects that need attention, board secretary Tracy Fleeger said.

There are three other bridges spanning Little Pucketa Creek at the high school — a pair of identical pedestrian bridges and another vehicle bridge near the football stadium that is shared with the Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center.

The district is expecting to replace both pedestrian bridges; the other vehicle bridge needs only minor repairs. They are all expected to be addressed next year.