Kittanning Street Paving Delayed

Campbell Street pot holes as deep as eight inches were overflowing with water after overnight rain added to an already-nasty problem for residents.

KITTANNING - Motorists driving on Jefferson, McKean, and Grant in downtown Kittanning will continue to navigate the potholes for several more months. Resurfacing was originally scheduled for early June, but now has been rescheduled for sometime after the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival in August.

There was also bad news for residents on Campbell and Sampson streets. Resurfacing of those streets was scheduled for this summer - but Street Supervisor Jim Mechling said funding issues will move that project into 2018.

On October 5, 2015, Kittanning Borough council members approved to use more than $82,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds toward reconstruction of Campbell Street in the borough’s second ward. County Planning and Development Assistant Director Carmen Johnson estimated the project to be completed mid-to-late 2016.

On February 8, 2016, it was determined that Campbell Street residents who completed surveys met the low-to-moderate income requirement. The surveys made it possible to qualify for CDBG funds.

On September 21, 2016, County Planning and Development Project Manager Sally Conklin explained that Kittanning Borough will spend more than $68,000 in 2016 funds, along with portions of 2015 and 2014 funds, on multi-year street improvements to Campbell Street, Sampson Street and Fair Street. 2014 funds were originally designated toward housing rehabilitation, but elected officials identified the Sampson Street project and requested a modification. The remainder of the nearly-$15,000 in 2016 grant funding will go to the Planning and Development staff to cover administration costs. Conklin estimated Campbell Street and Sampson Street projects would begin in the Summer of 2017.

Now Conklin told Mechling yesterday that the project will be pushed into 2018.