Supply Issues Delay Five Points New Traffic Lights Installation

At its Monday, Sept. 11 meeting, Roaring Spring Borough Council learned that a supply issue will delay the completion of the Five-Points project by at least five months.

According to Borough Manager Lisa Peel, the borough's engineers were informed that delivery of the mast arms for the new traffic signals at the Five-Points intersection will be delayed until Jan. 5, extending the project's completion date into the spring depending on the weather. The delay is not expected to affect the borough's Grant Reimbursement Agreement, that requires the project to be completed by May 15, 2024.

Holes have already been drilled into the new sidewalks that were poured as part of the project and the borough will take steps to secure the area, so it does not pose a danger to pedestrians.

Shawn Ritchey, chief construction engineer for transportation at Keller Engineers advised council in a letter that the work site should be "buttoned up" until work can resume by filling in any sidewalk areas that have not yet been poured, blowing water out of, and capping all conduits, removing construction signs, and placing cones and warning tape around any pedestrian hazards.

The Main Street project, which consisted of the realignment and widening of 1,000 feet of road in front of the former Appvion plant, new curbing, and guardrails, was completed late last month and opened for traffic on Aug. 29.

The borough's third project, the $2.6 million water line replacement is also nearing the finish line. Roaring Spring Municipal Authority Chairman Steve Weaver said crews are waiting for equipment to arrive to complete the installation of service connectors on Route 164 from the Woodbury Pike intersection to just past Frederick's market. When work resumes, it will be done overnight to reduce traffic disruptions.

Workers will also be replacing water lines near Nason Hospital by boring underneath Woodbury Pike from Nason Drive to the area of the former chicken shack. Weaver said boring underneath the road will allow them to avoid tearing up a heavily traveled road and having minimal impact on traffic. Weaver said paving work continues in the areas of town where the water line replacements are complete.

Borough Solicitor Larry Lashinsky told council that survey work is being done on Plum Creek Mountain and after its completion the borough can close the sale of the ground to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The game commission agreed last year to purchase the 1,367-acre tract from the borough. With hunting season approaching, council agreed that hunting on the ground should be done in accordance with game commission regulations. In previous years, the borough issued permits to hunt the land but with the finalization of the sale looming, it was decided to hand the control of hunting over to the game commission.

Council President Rodney Green said anyone hunting on the ground this year should do so as though it was state game lands and follow the rules set by the game commission.

Roaring Spring Council's next public meeting will be on Monday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m. at the borough building.