Crafton awards Broadhead sewer separation contract; project largely grant-funded

Crafton Borough on Monday approved a construction contract and add alternates for the Broadhead Sewer Separation Project after bids came in below the borough’s budgeted estimates.

Engineer Ronald Keenan told council the lowest apparent bidder was Amarante (bid read in the meeting as “Emerante” during presentation) with a total low price for the base bid and alternates of $6,154,810.75. Keenan reported the base bid was $5,582,872 and said the project is supported principally by external grants, including an Alcosan award and a Commonwealth grant.

Keenan outlined add alternates that the borough will include now that bids returned lower than expected: Belvedere Street full sidewalk and curb replacement ($97,602.50), Rebecca mill and pave ($41,350), Colter Street full sidewalk and curb replacement ($268,525), Park full sidewalk and curb replacement ($83,356), and Warren Street full sidewalk and curb replacement ($131,130.50). Council approved a motion to accept the contractor’s base bid and all add alternates for a total of $6,154,810.75; the motion passed 6‑0.

Council members and staff said the project has been on the borough’s radar for several years and will address long‑standing combined‑sewer issues, reduce street flooding and include road and sidewalk repairs on multiple streets. Manager Price and engineering staff said the project’s costs are largely covered by grant funding; Keenan noted the largest funding sources during his presentation were a grant from Alcosan and state grant funds.

The council also discussed related sewer work in the area: the Perrine Street subcomponent and a linked C20 separation project. Keenan said the borough is coordinating required agreements with Pittsburgh for easements and a potential eminent‑domain process for work that affects land in the city, and that the borough will schedule resident meetings on Ewing Road and other localized issues.

Keenan and staff said PA American Water has been performing required line relocations for related projects, and that milling and paving have been scheduled once weather and utility work allowed. Councilors said some add‑alternate streets, including Rebecca Street, were included because bids came in lower than anticipated.

Council voted to approve the Amarante base bid and add alternates and authorized the manager and engineer to finalize related contract documents and grant reimbursements. Staff said the borough will next move into contract execution and preconstruction scheduling and that grant reimbursements will follow project invoicing and state/federal disbursement rules.