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Borough manager briefs council on Gay Street work; $1.7M contract and $35,000 allowance cited
Summary
Borough staff updated the council on ongoing Gay Street construction: removable bollards, temporary traffic diversions, impacts to Darlington Street businesses, an awarded construction contract at $1,700,000 and a $35,000 time‑and‑materials allowance to reroute electrical conduits discovered during excavation. Council was told traffic closures will be required while concrete cures.
The borough manager told the West Chester Borough Council that work on Gay Street will include removable bollards and temporary closures that will affect sidewalk and cartway access and some downtown businesses.
"We uncovered electrical allowance a time and materials allowance was approved in the amount of $35,000 to get these conduits rerun and relocated out and around where the bollards need to go," the manager said, noting the adjustment will be charged against the construction allowances. He said the project bid was awarded at $1,700,000 and that the contract includes a $100,000 construction allowance against which the $35,000 will be accounted.
Staff warned that once the concrete foundations are poured a multi‑day traffic closure—"at least a week with no traffic on Gay Street"—will be required to allow the concrete to cure and advised council that the borough will use the familiar detour pattern diverting traffic onto Chestnut Street. The manager said staff will notify council and affected businesses, in coordination with the West Chester Business Improvement District, and will provide contractor updates every two weeks.
Why it matters: the project alters traffic patterns in the borough's downtown and can affect deliveries, customer access and special‑event planning for nearby businesses. The manager sought to reassure council that allowances will cover the unanticipated electrical work and that staff will seek council approval for any changes that exceed 10% of the bid or $170,000.
What comes next: staff will continue to share updates with council and businesses; council did not take a separate vote at the work session but will be asked to approve changes if cost thresholds are exceeded.
