(File Photo of the Welcome to Monaca Sign)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Monaca, PA) A major streetscape project is underway in Monaca, a long-planned effort borough leaders hope will help revitalize the downtown business district.
Borough Manager David Kramer said officials have been working toward the project since around 2013.
“The last streetscape project was 1988, so we’re 40 years in,” Kramer told Channel 11’s Andrew Havranek. “We want to bring our downtown back, and this is one way of doing it.”
The project carries a $7 million price tag, with half funded through a state grant and the other half paid for by the borough.
Underground utility work began last year. This spring, crews started work on the road and sidewalks.
The goal is to create a more vibrant downtown, attract businesses and visitors, and improve safety for drivers and pedestrians.
“We’re tearing out sidewalks and replacing them with brick. We have half a million bricks going into this project. New lighting, new benches, bike racks,” Kramer said.
While the construction may create temporary inconveniences for drivers, business owners told WPXI they are looking forward to the finished product.
“We’re excited that the changes are taking place,” said Mark Kopsack, owner of Valley Vintage Motorworks. “They’ve been doing a lot of planning, and that’s what it takes to do a project as big as this one. We give them a lot of credit. They seem to be working pretty quickly, and we’re looking forward to seeing the end result.”
Because Pennsylvania Avenue is a state-owned road, crews can only perform road work between March and October. Kramer said he hopes favorable weather this fall and winter will allow crews to continue work on sidewalks and lighting.
He expects the project to be completed by the middle of next summer.
Kramer also said private investors are working to revitalize vacant properties in the borough, with nearly $35 million in private investment planned.
“We have a lot of work going into town,” he said. “The next five years, it’s going to change dramatically. It’s exciting to be a part of it.”