Lower Nazareth to Save About $400,000 on Road Project

Crews hired by Lower Nazareth Township to install a pipe culvert on Hanoverville Road will save the municipality about $420,000, according to township manager Timm Tenges.

Tenges said corrugated metal pipes that had deteriorated were replaced with four 42-inch reinforced concrete pipes. The old pipes were so deteriorated that the road was caving in, he said. Plus, the pipes were too small to handle the flow of storm water adequately.

During Wednesday night's supervisors meeting, Tenges added that he expects the total cost of the project to be about $60,000. A bid, which was provided in March 2008 by an outside company, quoted the cost for the installation of a precast concrete box culvert at $480,000.

“We have substantially improved the capacity of that area and cut costs dramatically,” Tenges said.

So far, the project has cost the township $35,000 in supplies and about $15,000 in wages, Tenges said. Crews still have two concrete aprons to pour, and will need to grade and seed the ground.

Crews will use erosion stabilization mats because grass is unlikely to grow this time of year, according to Tenges.

In other road news, Tenges described the "2011 Road Rehabilitation Project," the first phase of which began on Oct. 10, for supervisors. The project is expected to take about two weeks to complete, depending on weather.

To be reconstructed and resurfaced in their entirety:

• Hillcrest Avenue
• Circle Drive
• Gable Drive
• Woodlawn Drive
• Hilltop Circle

To be reconstructed and resurfaced in parts:

• Lisa Drive beginning at Hillcrest Avenue, west 10 feet.
• Maria Drive beginning at Circle Drive, west to 36 feet beyond Hillcrest Avenue.

Hilltop Circle is the first to be resurfaced, Tenges said, adding that the the road has been reclaimed, but has not been paved yet.

Reclaiming is the process of grinding and re-laying the road base before a road is paved.

The entire project will be completed in three phases: milling and the removal of approximately 2.5 inches of existing pavement, full-depth reclamation with cement stabilization, and the wearing course.

According to an announcement on the township's website, the roads will receive a micro-surfacing treatment in 2012. Micro-surfacing "will seal the wearing course and further extend the life of the pavement."

For the full details on the "2011 Road Rehabilitation Project," visit the Public Works section at lowernazareth.com.