Latrobe awards contract for long-awaited Mary Street paving

Plum-based Tresco Paving is slated to resurface deteriorating Mary Street and some intersecting streets and alleys in Latrobe this summer in a project that was delayed for several years while city officials awaited funding.

Council on Monday approved Tresco’s low bid of $156,976. City manager Michael Gray said the project has been a high priority for the past three years, and Latrobe was able to move forward following approval of a Community Development Block Grant to help pay for it.

The city will pay a 15% share of the costs, Gray said.

“We’re excited to see this project underway,” he said, indicating Mary Street is in “deplorable” condition. Parts of intersecting River Avenue and an alley paralleling Lloyd Avenue also will be resurfaced.

The project area, between Lloyd Avenue and Loyalhanna Creek, will receive storm drain repairs, new stormwater pipes and inlets and new curb ramps for improved handicapped accessibility.

“They are going to repair the aging infrastructure underground while the street is being excavated,” Gray said.

Gray said Monday he’d not yet received word when work might begin to install new, improved traffic signals and curb ramps at several major downtown intersections. That $3.4 million effort is among PennDOT construction projects that were delayed this spring as state officials placed restrictions on a number of industries because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Westmoreland County on Friday will move into the state-designated “yellow” phase, easing some restrictions on businesses. Gray said the city municipal building will continue to be closed to the public, for now.

“We will re-evaluate that on a weekly basis and come to a better conclusion at the end of this month,” he said. In the meantime, city staff will be able to field questions from citizens who call 724-539-8548.

The city suspended enforcement of parking violations as pandemic restrictions went into place. Gray said parking enforcement will resume May 18, with violators issued warnings during an initial week’s grace period; motorists who want to apply for a parking permit don’t need to wait to call.

Council removed two-hour parking limits on sections of Jefferson and John streets and Minehan Avenue near the Robindale Energy Services headquarters, the town’s former elementary school.

“Since the school has been relocated, there’s no longer a need for those parking restrictions,” said solicitor John Greiner.