Apr 5, 2016 3 min read

A section of Cameron Road in South Strabane Township will remain closed for at least another week, the latest delay in a project originally slated to be completed by the beginning of this year.

“It seems like it’s slow progress and (the contractor) keeps extending the date,” said Supervisor Thomas Moore. “We certainly will be discussing it at our meeting next Tuesday and seeing if we can expedite (the process).”

Seeping water caused degeneration of the portion of road that intersects with Route 136/East Beau Street. On Oct. 13, South Strabane Township supervisors awarded a bid to Redstone Excavating for $219,155 to construct a retaining wall and for repairs to the road and prevent sliding.

The road closed Dec. 1, with a projected completion date at the end of December, although township Manager John Stickle said there was no formal completion date stipulated in the contract.

On Jan. 18, Stickle told the Observer-Reporter work was delayed because of “unsuitable soil” at the site. The retaining wall was redesigned and relocated by about 30 feet, unusable soil was removed and appropriate soil was delivered.

At the Jan. 26 meeting, supervisors were informed work would be complete in mid-February.

On Feb. 9, supervisors approved a change order from Redstone Excavating, increasing the cost of the project by $96,390. The next day, Stickle said the road was expected to reopen the first or second week in March.

By the second week in March, Stickle, the supervisors and the Observer-Reporter started to receive calls from people frustrated by the prolonged closure.

Stickle said March 16 that poor weather contributed to the delay and the road would reopen by the end of March.

But Joanne Henson, who lives in the Windsor Highlands development off Route 136, said she and a group of concerned citizens were tracking progress. Henson said there were many days of clear weather when no one was working.

A message left on an answering machine for Redstone Excavating of Brownsville was not returned.

“The last I knew, it was supposed to be done by the end of March and here we are, well into April, and it’s not finished,” Moore said. “I’ll certainly investigate and see if I can find out anything further.”

Chairman Jack Keisling said he’s disappointed in the progress.

“We’re in the final stage,” he said. “There’s not much we can do as supervisors, except to say, ‘Get it done it as quickly as you can.'”

Stickle said seeding and mulching on both sides of the retaining wall are complete. He said the sub-base for the road will be laid this week, with paving and reinstallation of the guardrail expected to be complete next week.

“They’re working as fast as they can. I’ve been up there many times checking it out. On rainy days, they can’t work because of weather conditions,” Stickle said. “We all want the road to be reopened.”

Stickle said the company has not yet submitted any change orders, but he expects another cost increase because of the amount of soil that was delivered.