Construction Begins To Replace Brick Road In Oakmont
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Road construction is underway in Oakmont and that means some traffic changes for drivers.
Crews are replacing the bricks along a two-block stretch of Allegheny River Boulevard and they are doing it in a way that preserves the community's charm.
"We live actually on Maryland, which is a brick street and its definitely very charming. We built a house here a couple of years ago on Maryland, so it's a great old little town," Carrie Delrosso said.
It's that old town, charming feel that borough leaders want to keep.
That's why they are replacing the worn bricks rather than going with a cheaper option like paving with asphalt.
"It is the signature of our community, we're known for it, it adds to the quaintness of the town. We're very fortunate to have a viable retail area, which a lot of the river towns don't really have anymore," Tim Favo of the Oakmont Borough Council said.
Favo said the work is being done in sections to cut down on the inconvenience for retailers.
The 500 and 600-blocks will be completed this year. The big change for drivers is parking along the street in those blocks is off limits.
Some said it's a small price to pay to keep Oakmont's historic feel.
"I think it sets Oakmont apart. When you come into town and you see the brick road, the gas lights and the American flags, it just remind you of what a business district can look like," Summer Tissue of the Oakmont Chamber Of Commerce said.
All of this work obviously means a lot of old bricks, but they aren't going to waste. Instead of just trashing them, the borough is actually donating all of them to a non-profit that collects reusable building materials.
"Instead of the bricks going into a landfill, other people will be able to reuse them and we think that is a wonderful aspect of the project," Tissue said.
The bricks are going to Construction Junction and work is expected to wrap up by the end of July.
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