Feb 10, 2016 2 min read

Relocation of a retaining wall along a township road will cost South Strabane Township almost $100,000 more than was originally expected and delay project completion by more than two months.

Cameron Road was closed Dec. 1 for repairs to a slide near the intersection of Route 136 (East Beau Street).

The road was to reopen at the beginning of the year, but was delayed because of problems with soil at the site.

“The area where the original wall was to be built was unsuitable,” said John Stickle, township manager. “To make sure the retaining wall is constructed on a solid base, we added time to the whole project.”

Construction of the retaining wall has begun about 30 feet from the original site.

The road is now expected to reopen the first or second week in March, Stickle said.

The redesign and relocation of the retaining wall, the removal of the bad soil and replacement with appropriate soil increased the cost of the project by $96,390 – from $219,155 to $315,545.

“We did not realize what we were facing,” Stickle said. “You don’t really know what’s under the ground until you start digging it up.”

Water seepage has been blamed for the deterioration of that road. After an engineering study in October 2014, plans were made to excavate and install a retaining wall to prevent any further slides.

Stickle praised the contractor, Redstone Excavating of Brownsville, for working weekends to get the job done.

“We realize it’s an inconvenience to our motorists. We didn’t anticipate it would take this long,” Stickle said.

The road that runs between East Beau and Route 19 is heavily traveled, and Trinity East Elementary School is located along it.

“If people could just be patient and use the detour another month, the road will be reopened and the project will be completed,” Stickle said.