HOMETOWN - With the second year completed of its strategic long-range infrastructure program, Rush Township will take on some major projects in 2012 to improve roads and storm drainage.
Township supervisors Chairman Stephen W. Simchak said that the first two years is only a start on what needs to be done in the township with regard to infrastructure improvement.
"It's going to be at least 10 years for the infrastructure structure program," said Simchak. "Nothing has been done to maintain the roads in the last 20 to 30 years. Everything needs to be reconstructed and in the proper way."
The township has 32 miles of roads that must be maintained, repaired and plowed.
The 2011 road program, which was completed and went through final inspection in November, cost $115,730, with work done on Locust and Lincoln streets and Frankford Avenue in Hometown. Approximately 400 tons of 9.5 mm Superpave (SUperior PERforming Asphalt PAVEments) 1 1/2 overlay was installed. Other project work included curb milling and the installation of inlet boxes and 12- to 18-inch thermoplastic storm pipe.
The upcoming third year of the infrastructure plan will have liquid fuels funding being used on the top section on Holly Road and Heckman and Back streets in the township's Barnesville section. How much work will be done will depend on available funds and contracting costs.
"Just from liquid fuels, we get just under $100,000 from PennDOT, and that decreases about four percent every year," said Simchak. "We'll try to do about $150,000 worth of work, with the additional money comes from Rush Township."
Simchak said the township increased real estate taxes by 1.5 mills two years ago, with the additional revenue earmarked specifically for roads, infrastructure, storm drains and sanitary sewers. The supervisors are also making the most of the money available through the competitive bidding process and cost-effective planning.
In addition to the work in Barnesville, the township will have a second infrastructure project in Hometown in 2012.
"On Dec. 9, we opened bids to reconstruct Meadow Avenue in Hometown," said Simchak. "That was close to a half-million dollars."
The work will be paid through the liquid fuels funding of about $100,000, plus $500,000 available from township taxes every year for road construction. The project will include installation of more than 1,400 feet of corrugated pipe for storm drains, 20 Type M concrete inlet boxes, 14 Type 4 inlet boxes, more than 1,000 yards of roadway construction, 100 tons of PG 64-22 asphalt cement, 960 tons of Superpave asphalt, 1,000 square yards of milling and about 400 lineal feet of concrete curb.
"This project will start when the weather breaks in the spring," said Simchak.