New Kensington-Arnold to seek proposals for pedestrian bridge replacement

The New Kensington-Arnold School District will begin seeking proposals to replace the pedestrian bridges at Valley High School.

The twin spans cross Little Pucketa Creek at about the midpoint of the school. One has been closed because of its condition.

The school board approved seeking three proposals for the bridges’ replacement. One is for the demolition of the bridges, and another is for two prefabricated bridges to replace them.

Edward Patton, owner of Patton Engineering, has advised the district that prefabricated bridges would cost between $580,000 and $600,000, while conventional construction would run between $1 million and $1.2 million. The bridges themselves are expected to cost $132,500 each.

In a third proposal, the district will seek costs to build a new ramp and stairs to both bridges. Included in that proposal will be improvements to the bridge near the football stadium, which is shared with the Northern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center, and installing railing panels at the main entrance bridge at the other end.

A project to refurbish and repair the main entrance bridge was finished in 2022.

A timeline for the project, including when proposals would be due back to the district, is not yet known, Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said.

Sefcheck said district officials are still looking into the sequence of the demolition and replacement of the pedestrian bridges — and whether one will be required to remain accessible while classes are in session.

In other business, the school board approved changes for two other building projects. The board approved paying Pittsburgh Stage $12,771 for a change in the theatrical lighting “front of the house” lights in the high school auditorium. The board in March approved paying Pittsburgh Stage close to $180,000 to replace the theatrical lighting and nearly $159,000 to replace stage rigging.

The board also approved a $75,286 change order for the energy savings project with The Efficiency Network to replace HVAC equipment and rooftop duct insulation at Roy A. Hunt Elementary.

The school board in July 2022 approved a guaranteed energy savings contract with The Efficiency Network that is not to exceed about $12.6 million. It includes energy auditing, engineering, procurement, construction management, installation, construction, training, monitoring and verification and operation of the district’s energy savings project.