SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The borough has been awarded $75,000 for the relocation of water and sewer lines and to replace a waterline as part of the Route 61 widening project.
"We submitted this application quite a few months ago," borough Manager Scott Graver said at the Dec. 4 council meeting.
Funding from the grant is through the state's Commonwealth Financing Authority and its PennWorks Program, a program designed for safe water supply and wastewater infrastructure, according to the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
The borough was one of only two in the county to receive the funding. Bids were due for the Route 61 project in November
The $11,660,854 road widening project involves creating two additional lanes through the borough and relocating electric, water and sewer utilities. About 1.28 miles of road will be affected.
The project could start in February 2014 and could last two years. Graver said an exact starting date hasn't been determined but it might be in March.
The $75,000 grant will also be used to replace an 8-inch waterline with a 12-inch line.
"The upgrade to a 12-inch waterline from an 8-inch waterline will substantially increase the ability to provide a larger volume of water south of the Penn State campus and throughout the commercial district along state Route 61. Most of the waterline replacement will occur in the sidewalk area," Graver said.
In addition, a gravity sewer will run across all four lanes of the new road, replacing the current siphon sewer, Graver said.
Currently, the cost to the borough is about $500,000, although that depends on the work, Graver said. In an agreement between the borough and the state Department of Transportation, the department will pay for 75 percent reimbursement of all costs involving the relocation of electric, water and sewer utilities in the public right-of-way in the borough.
Graver thanked state Sen. David Argall, R-29, and Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, for their assistance.
"This grant will be a part of the solution to provide for under-the-road upgrades required as part of the overall plan to widen the roadway, which will decrease congestion and improve traffic flow through the community. The collaboration with the borough and state is unprecedented to kick this plan into high gear," Argall said.
Tobash said, "Not only will the funding ensure that the project gets completed, but coupled with the pilot program between the state and borough announced earlier this year, we are making efficient use of taxpayer dollars. The project is critical for everyone who uses the Route 61 corridor."
Graver said there is a pre-construction meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Allentown with the low bidder for the project, Kinsley Construction.
"It has not been awarded but they are the low bidder at approximately $8.6 million dollars," Graver said.
He said the contract could be awarded "shortly after that meeting."