Garnet Valley, Concord team up for road improvements
CONCORD » Garnet Valley School District is poised to fulfill a commitment made almost a decade ago. The school board approved the necessary agreement related to Smithbridge Road improvements. The district is working on the project in conjunction with Concord Township.
Roadway expansion, sidewalks, links to trails and parks are all within the scope of the work which has received a grant just less than $1.6 million on a $2.1 million project. The federal grant is administered through PennDOT in cooperation with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
Superintendent Marc Bertrando said the district had agreed to roadway improvements in connection to completion of Concord Elementary School and work at the high school and middle school. The fundamental purpose is to help clear traffic on Smithbridge Road at peak hours by way of a left turn lane traveling southwest bound and a stacking lane for right turn traveling northeast bound. It will also address the intersection with Station and Bethel roads.
However, Bertrando said, the project is planned to include sidewalks, connect the immediate region to the park just beyond the middle school and ultimately included the “rails to trails” system. It will benefit students directly, such as those who might want to walk to school, and the schools’ cross country runner who will have more protected areas.
“We see some very exciting outcomes. This is something the entire community needs, for safety and to bring us closer together,” said Bertrando. Bruce Craig, the district’s facilities director, said the grant proposal was developed by Pennoni Engineering, Concord Township’s engineer, at a cost of $73,000 to be divided equally among the two entities.
“Because it is a federal grant, there are certain regulatory needs to be satisfied, such as an environmental study,” said Craig. “We already started talking with neighbors of the project for easements we will need.”
Craig said the district would have liked to start the project in spring 2018 for completion during the summer, but due to the necessary meetings and reviews — by PennDOT and others — that timing might not be realistic. Nevertheless, the commitment (mandate) is on its way to being accomplished.