Middle school construction slowed by unanticipated stormwater work; borough seeks reduced road closure

JP Kelly, the borough engineer, told the Clifton Heights council and residents that work on the new middle school is ongoing but slower than expected after crews encountered rock while installing a stormwater pipe on Springfield Road. "They were finally out of that rock, and they're moving along at a much quicker pace now," Kelly said during the meeting.

Kelly said the stormwater line will extend up to Oak Avenue and that crews will also install water and sanitary connections in front of the school. He said the contractor holds a permit that currently allows a full road closure but that the borough has asked PennDOT to change that to a single-lane closure with flaggers to reduce detours through neighboring streets. "We have the support of their inspector," Kelly said, but he added that PennDOT had not yet issued a final decision.

On-site building work has moved into interior rough-ins — HVAC, plumbing, electrical and framing — but interior trades are progressing "slower than we expected," Kelly said. He estimated rough grading around the site is about 60 to 70 percent complete and said once exterior building work finishes crews will shift to the back of the site to shape and finish the athletic fields; substantial field work and irrigation installation are not expected until field shaping in early spring.

Officials said the borough hired a fields consultant to produce an irrigation design and field specifications; they emphasized the fields will be grass with an irrigation system, not turf. A borough official described an expanded boys club building and a raised platform for game viewing and concessions that will accompany field improvements.

Residents raised multiple construction impacts at the meeting. One resident who lives near the main school entrance said, "I have a difficult time to get in there," describing daily access problems during work hours. Borough staff said they will coordinate with crews to improve access during peak travel times. Neighbors also reported dust on Sprinkler Road and an increase in rat sightings since construction began; code enforcement confirmed an uptick in rodent complaints and said the borough will deploy traps and follow up with affected addresses.

The borough also highlighted a separate funding item: officials said the borough has secured a $3,200,000 grant to finish the parking lot and repair sidewalks and curbs near the school, add handicap-accessible sidewalks at specified locations, and address stormwater capture near the memorial side of the street.

Officials cautioned that weather or large storms could delay schedules. The borough reiterated its biweekly construction-management meetings and said it will continue to post updates and videos for residents. "There's a lot of moving parts — some material delays and coordination — but we're continuing to push the project forward," Kelly said. The meeting concluded with staff promising follow-up on access, pest control, and the PennDOT response to the requested lane-reduction plan.