Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Streets And Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Palmyra residents press borough to finish patchwork on Division, Cherry and other streets
Summary
Residents told borough council that Division Street remains riddled with potholes after partial work and asked when paving will occur; borough staff said Division is on the list but crew shortages and grant eligibility shape the schedule for Cherry Street and nearby stretches.
Mary Smith, a Palmyra resident, told the borough council she has lived at 137 A North Railroad Street and that “we have potholes that are like this deep” on Division Street after crews widened the road but did not pave it, leaving an elevation lip into a private parking lot that she said risks vehicle damage.
The concern mattered to other nearby residents as well. Helen Nicksdorf, who lives at the corner of South Lingle and West Cherry, asked why work on Cherry Street stopped at Lingle Avenue when the borough recently repaved part of the street. “We have at least five families that live on the other side of Lingle … and we’d like to know when you’re gonna finish the road,” she said.
The borough’s public works representative said the portion of Cherry Street west of Lingle was not eligible for the Federal Highway Aid program that funded the recent repaving because that stretch was not designated as a detour for Main Street. The official added that the borough has the unpaved sections on a multiyear schedule and that coordination with neighboring Derry Township could lower mobilization costs if the municipalities repave contiguous stretches at once.
On Division Street, staff said the roadway is on the maintenance list but crews are short-staffed and have been applying temporary surface materials such as millings. The staff member acknowledged those millings can leave “big chunks” behind and said the borough will “take a look at it” and try to keep the roadway in better shape until a full paving can be scheduled. Members of the council asked staff to “bump it up” on the list so the alley and that stretch are addressed sooner.
Council and staff also discussed other recurring street problems: a low-lying intersection at Pennsy/Harrison/East Mabel that floods because the crossing is very flat and would require about 7 inches of excavation to move water; and alleys that need full milling and repaving after years of wear. The borough engineer is to prepare a cost proposal for the Pennsy/Harrison/East Mabel intersection so council can weigh whether to bid out a permanent fix or pursue another option.
Councilors and staff emphasized that mobilization costs drive the paving schedule and that smaller segments are typically grouped with larger projects to reduce expense. Staff said Cherry Street’s remaining portion could be added to a future year’s program if neighboring jurisdictions agree to coordinate work.
The council approved the routine consent calendar, including the minutes of the May meeting, before moving on to discussion items.
