Cardboard sign grabs attention in Bridgeville

A hand-lettered cardboard sign became an unlikely prop in Bridgeville’s efforts to replace crumbling sidewalks under the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway overpass on Washington Avenue.

The sign read, “Mayor DeBlasio Please Fix Our Sidewalk!!!”

Mayor Pasquale DeBlasio said the sign was nailed to a telephone pole on Washington Avenue, and since it was addressed to him, he wanted to respond. He displayed it on an easel during council’s meeting on Monday.

Council considered five bids for the sidewalk replacement, but they all came in above what the borough wanted to spend. The low bidder was A. Merante Contracting with a proposal of $109,430.

As council discussed delaying the work until the scope of the project could be adjusted to bring down the cost, Mr. DeBlasio referred to the sign.

Borough engineer Joe Sites said one factor that adds to the cost is a requirement from the state Department of Transportation that the work be done at night because Washington Avenue is a state road.

“Working at night requires a higher wage scale, and paying the cement plant to stay open after hours to mix the concrete,” he said. “If we could do the work during the daytime hours, the cost would be reduced.”

The length of sidewalk that needs to be repaired also increases the cost, he said.

Mr. Sites said an icing problem occurs on the sidewalk from beyond the overpass to the Don Welch Auto Sales lot, and a new curb and sidewalk are needed to channel water to the road.

Council is considering reducing the length of sidewalk to be repaired or replaced or fixing one side of the sidewalk along Washington until more money becomes available.