Structurally-Deficient Pipes Worrying North Buffalo Supervisors

 

by Jonathan Weaver

To prevent possible disaster along a North Buffalo Township road, supervisors might have to make some tough decisions upcoming.

A third of a six-foot pipe under Sportsman Road is rotting out, Vice-Chair Clark Whiteman, and the State is not promising responsibility for its repair.

“The middle is starting to cave in and bend – the structural integrity’s gone,” Whiteman said. “The longer you let it go, the worse it will be because if it does collapse, we would have to dig it out – which would cost us quarter of a million (dollars).”

A similar five-foot galvanized pipe is also located further down Sportsman Road – which runs alongside Nicholson Run. Similar pipes are also under other township roads, such as McHaddon and Glade Run Roads.

Whiteman was also worried township funds will also have to be diverted from its 2016 budget to fix the problem.

“I think we should put it out for bid – an insert would probably be cheaper, quicker, easier to deal with,” Whiteman said. “It’s probably too big of a job for our people to handle. It’s a safety issue.”

Supervisor Chair David Wolfe agreed, and recommended against the in-house labor.

Supervisors received an approximately-$83,000 estimate for a different solution from township engineers, but Wolfe was upset engineers did not recommend other options.

Wolfe estimated supervisors would need to get specifications from engineers, regardless of treatment.

“The potential is a collapsing of one of our major roads,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe has spoken to State Representative Jeff Pyle about potential grant funding, but no word yet on if the municipality will receive any financial aid.

The three supervisors agreed to first consult PennDOT Municipal Services Specialist Dick Knapko , but if he is unable to assist, engineers will provide specifications for bid and/or help with grant funds provided alternative options are presented.

An audience resident recommended reaching out to Underground Solutions in Sarver (Warrendale) for a bid.

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