Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Officials face $1 million question
That’s how much it may cost to repair a section of Mortonville Road
EAST FALLOWFIELD» Township officials are expecting the total cost to repair a section of Mortonville Road that experienced severe flood damage to reach $1 million. The township is still searching for a company to perform remediation work to the site for a more permanent fix.
Mortonville Road, between Sawmill and Strasburg roads, was washed out of commission from heavy rain and flooding at the end of April. Township officials mulled opening up traffic to one lane until repairs open the road completely, but the road has remained closed to all traffic for the past six months.
Now, township supervisors are faced with finding a company to design a plan before bids are sought for construction. The potential cost is also leading to discussion on how the township will pay for the repairs.
Two bids were recently submitted for work — Pennoni Associates for about $44,000 and Carroll Engineering for about $14,000.
During the board meeting Tuesday night, supervisors recommended adding time for bid submission to include potential work along the Brandywine Creek.
According to township solicitor Vincent Pompo of Lamb McErlane, Pennoni is the only one
that presented an alternative bid, including “whatever may be necessary on the stream side of the road.”
He said representatives from Pennoni estimated the construction cost of the project to approach $1 million.
According to Supervisor Ed Porter, the cost of the project could change as future flooding could potentially increase damage in that area.
“Since we don’t have the funds, things can change,” Porter said Tuesday, adding it’s crucial that the township search for grant opportunities for the project.
According to Pompo, Pennoni is also willing to work with the township on searching for grants to assist the township with the project cost.
The township already spent $8,865 for Earth Engineering Inc. to perform a geotechnical analysis of the road The next step is a separate analysis of the roadway, civil engineering investigation and a closer look at how stormwater runoff would affect the roadway.
“Nobody is really in the position right now to propose a final design,” Pompo said at the meeting Tuesday. “We are in between what (the township) has done already and doing the final design.”
The township is seeking additional bids for the project.