Scranton is planning a $287,000 project to repair a crumbling wall and sidewalks of a West Lackawanna Avenue bridge.
To pay for the work, however, the city wants to transfer federal Community Development Block Grant funds from two youth sports organizations - the West Side Falcons and North Scranton Little League - as well as from a city vacant-property review committee and the demolition of hazardous structures.
"Am I disappointed? Immensely," West Side Falcons Youth Organization President Ken Martin said. "This is about the youth of Scranton. The more that you can fix things up and keep kids off the street," the better off they will be.
He said he understands the bridge badly needs repair but is unhappy the money is coming from other needed community projects. The West Side Falcons were to get $32,000 for paving and roof repair projects.
The city-owned and -maintained bridge is a vital link between West Scranton and the downtown, especially with a nearby West Linden Street bridge having been closed for the past two years. Repairs to the West Linden Street bridge began April 1 and are supposed to be completed by Dec. 31, officials said. With the West Linden Street bridge closed, its main detour for traffic and pedestrians is the West Lackawanna Avenue bridge. "It's a serious problem. If we don't address it, it's only going to get worse," said Mayor Chris Doherty of the condition of the West Lackawanna Avenue bridge's sidewalk and wall. "If we did nothing (to the West Lackawanna Avenue bridge) and it deteriorated quickly, we could have two main arteries from West Scranton down and we can't have that."
The issue of the dilapidated condition of the bridge's sidewalks and wall was raised two years ago and again last month by Councilman Jack Loscombe during a city council meeting. While the bridge deck is fine, a crumbling concrete wall section of the northern sidewalk that is pulling away from the span has significantly worsened and appears to be hanging on by nothing more than a wire, Mr. Loscombe said at the meeting.
The West Lackawanna Avenue bridge project will include hiring an experienced municipal civil engineering firm for the planning, design and construction of rehabilitation of the bridge's "cheek wall" and 1,400 feet of sidewalks and curbs, according to a public notice issued Monday.
To cobble together funds to repair the West Lackawanna Avenue bridge's wall and sidewalks, the city has proposed amending its federal CDBG allocations by transferring $287,000 to the bridge-repair project from the following recipients besides the West Side Falcons:
n $25,000 from a North Scranton Little League playground project;
n $30,000 from the Scranton Redevelopment Authority's vacant-property review committee, and;
n $200,000 from demolition of hazardous, blighted structures.
North Scranton Little League Treasurer Joseph Aldcowski said public safety trumps parks and recreation and his organization will wait for another CDBG funding round.
"When its time comes, we'll get it done," Mr. Aldcowski said of the project for a playground in the 600 block of Theodore Street.
Because the fund transfers represent a substantial amendment to the city's CDBG action plan, the city's Office of Economic and Community Development that administers CDBGs is accepting written comments within a 30-day public-comment period. Written comments may be sent to Scranton's Office of Economic and Community Development, 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, Pa. 18503.
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter