A Lackawanna County paving project targeting Main Street in Archbald and Blakely is likely to begin in earnest later this month or early next as the contractor completes a separate county paving project on Montage Mountain, county Roads and Bridges Director Larry Lukasik said.
Commissioners awarded in March a roughly $1.3 million contract to Pennsy Supply Inc. for the resurfacing of Main Street from its intersection with Keystone Avenue in Blakely to its intersection with Kennedy Drive in Archbald. The project also includes replacing a retaining wall in the area of the Hill Street intersection in Blakely.
This map shows the area of Main Street in Blakely and Archbald targeted for paving as part of a roughly $1.3 million road resurfacing project likely to begin in late July or early August. (COURTESY OF LACKAWANNA COUNTY)
The March vote came after commissioners awarded Pennsy in February an almost $3.6 million contract for a separate paving project covering the entirety of Montage Mountain Road, Preate Drive and Lakeview Commons, as well as the portion of Glenmaura National Boulevard that loops from the railroad crossing near PNC Field through the area of the Shoppes at Montage and intersects back with Montage Mountain Road near the Glenmaura Sales Center.
Lukasik provided an update on the Montage project while discussing the pending Main Street resurfacing.
“Since we have to mill and pave by the railroad tracks, the railroad has to have certified flaggers out there and you’re at the railroad’s mercy, so right now the last stretch we have to do is about 250 feet alongside the railroad tracks up there by where the Burger King is,” he said, referring to the fast-food restaurant off Montage Mountain Road near Davis Street and Interstate 81 in Moosic. “The railroad is sending flaggers in on July 28 from what I understand, so everything should be done on Montage Mountain except for that little section.”
Milling for the Archbald and Blakely paving project should start around the time the Montage project wraps up, Lukasik said, noting crews are also waiting for UGI to complete some ditch-restoration work in Blakely and for PPL to relocate some utility poles ahead of the retaining wall replacement.
The county is paying for both paving projects, Montage and Main Street, with revenue from short-term borrowing it did in late 2023, county Chief Financial Officer David Bulzoni confirmed.
Blakley council President Lou Parri asked for an update on the latter paving project during a recent commissioners meeting held in the borough. Like Lukasik, Commissioner Bill Gaughan said at the time that officials were tentatively planning for a late-July start.
“As soon as we know a definitive date we will absolutely be in touch with you to let you know, because of course it’s going to affect the borough of Blakely and Archbald,” Gaughan said.
Monday Update
Then: Commissioners approved a contract in March to pave a stretch of Main Street in Archbald and Blakely boroughs.
Now: The project is likely to start in late July or early August.