The borough engineer updated Crafton Borough Council July 24 on multiple infrastructure projects, reporting an anticipated construction start for the Broadhead Sewer Separation Project and presenting findings from a recent inspection of the SOAR stormwater retention tank behind Crafton Boulevard School.

Engineer Keenan said the Broadhead project anticipates a construction start on Aug. 4 and that preconstruction work and utility relocations by Pennsylvania American Water and Duquesne Light were underway. At Linden Avenue and Steuben Street, crews have completed some waterline relocations and plan to rebuild an ADA ramp and modify pavement grades to address a perennial pooling problem at the southeast corner of the Steuben-Duncan intersection.

Keenan told council PennDOT had approved shifting work hours along Steuben Street (from the previously planned night operations) to daytime hours to reduce the need for night work. He also said the project team intends to add marked crosswalks around that intersection to improve pedestrian safety; the design will use high-visibility thermoplastic markings and signage per PennDOT guidance.

On stormwater infrastructure, public works and engineering staff inspected the SOAR retention tank that collects runoff near the Crafton Boulevard School. Staff videotaped the tank interior and found some sediment build-up in places and evidence of a small seep around the outlet riser that likely needs patching. The team reported the environment inside the tank is hot and humid and that confined-space safety procedures were used during inspection. A contractor's quoted mobilization/cleanup rate (previously discussed) was roughly $4,500 per day; borough staff said limited sediment suggested the borough might be able to perform limited cleanout work in-house, but the borough will evaluate costs and methods.

Keenan also updated council on other ongoing projects: the Pruning Street sewer project awaiting city-of-Pittsburgh taking action; Ewing Road traffic-count analysis that suggested lower volumes than expected (supporting a lower-cost repair approach); ongoing public-works building construction; and an extensive sewer repair program (including excavation, manhole-to-manhole lining and spot lining) scheduled to proceed through late summer and fall.

Ending: Engineers indicated the SOAR tank will be inspected at least twice a year going forward and that staff would develop a plan and cost estimate for any necessary repairs and scheduled cleanouts.