street-fixin’ season

Mt. Lebanon Commission approved $2.05 million for road reconstruction this year. The work, to be done by Niando Construction,  includes reconstruction of 12 streets and drainage improvements to four others.

The public works department works with Gateway Engineers to evaluate the condition of streets and compile the annual reconstruction list using a software program called Pavement View Plus.

Pavement View Plus uses a numerical ranking system that decides if a street needs reconstruction, taking into consideration several factors:

Type of street (determined by the amount of traffic it carries.) Arterial streets are heavily traveled main roads; collector streets connect neighborhood streets and arterial streets;  neighborhood streets are residential, dead-end and culs de sac, which do not bear a heavy traffic load.

Street composition Whether the road is made of brick, concrete or asphalt, all which affect the process and cost.

History of the road When it was last reconstructed or repaired.

Type and extent of damage to the road  Each defect in the surface is given a numerical value, which is subtracted from 100 to arrive at the Overall Condition Index (OCI) number. A score of 85 to 100 indicates a street that needs no repair; 60 to 84 calls for minor repairs; 45 to 59 requires major repairs, and an OCI below 45 means that section of street needs major repairs or reconstruction.

Streets that have exceeded their useful life and cannot be maintained further are tabbed for reconstruction, which involves excavating all layers of the road and rebuilding it, with two 1 1/2-inch layers, a 5- to 8-inch base, topped with another six inches of stone, curb replacement as necessary and new paving. The scope of improvements includes spot curb repair and removing and replacing 3 inches of bituminous material.

Residents on streets scheduled for reconstruction will receive letters with specific information. People who need to park on adjacent streets will not get tickets. Arrangements for moving, special deliveries or medical transport may be made by calling thte contractor noted in the letter.

Slated for reconstruction are:

Bridgewater Drive (Lovingston Drive to Sleepy Hollow)

Elm Spring Road (Couch Farm Road to 832 Elm Spring)

Mayfair Drive (Vee Lynn Drive to Cedar)

Mohican Drive (Terrace to 1467 Mohican)

Pat Haven (Payton Drive to Sandrae)

Richland Road (Broadmoor to Catalpa)

Ridgeview Drive (Woodland to Eisenhower) 

Theodan Drive (Helen to 1762 Theodan)

Twin Hills Drive (North Meadowcroft to Northridge)

Municipal Way (Florida Avenue to parking garage)

Greenhurst Drive (Academy Place to 573 Greenhurst)

Mohican Drive (Pueblo to 1467 Mohican)

Streets selected for drainage improvements are Bridgewater Drive, Elm Spring Road, Pat Haven Drive and Richland Road.