Wrightstown officials are looking at the most efficient and economical way to approach necessary improvements to Penns Parks Road.
The topic came up at a recent public board of supervisors meeting. A preliminary analysis suggests that engineering costs and performing the full scope of upgrades for both sections of the road – which could include base repair and top-coating – would fall roughly in the range $205,000.
That’s more than the $128,582 that the township was allocated in liquid fuel funds from the commonwealth for 2023. Typically, said Township Manager Stacey Mulholland, Wrightstown aims to not exceed the annual allocation in liquid fuels for a project such as that envisioned for Penns Park Road.
Still, township officials have been prudent in managing the liquid fuels budget over the years and the current account boasts reserves of approximately $600,000, said Supervisor Chairman Chester Pogonowski.
Mulholland noted that some money from the reserves could be put toward doing all the anticipated necessary work on both sections of Penns Park this year, rather than doing one section this year and the other the next. That would not only be more efficient, but very likely cost less in the long run, she said.
It was a line of thinking that appealed to supervisors, with Supervisor Jane Magne pointing out that one reason the township has built up the liquid fuels reserves is for a situation such as this. Pogonowski said the township shouldn’t get in the habit of dipping into the liquid fuels reserves “for all kinds of things” but believes in this case it appears to be the intelligent move.
Supervisors authorized the township engineer to prepare a package that invites contractors to bid on performing the work for both sections of Penns Park Road. It’s at the discretion of supervisors to award or not award a bid based on what comes back. It’s unclear when a bid might be awarded, but if things go smoothly, supervisors are eyeing the summer months for the project.
“We would like to get the work done after school closes and before it opens in September,” Pogonowski told the Herald. “We also need to coordinate with a food truck event at the Grange sponsored by Lingohocken Fire Company in July and the Middletown Grange Fair in August.”
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
