Paving Equals Progress: City of Harrisburg starts series of paving projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Matt Maisel
Director of Communications, City of Harrisburg
(717) 255-7295
[email protected]

August 11, 2023

HARRISBURG – City of Harrisburg Public Works, under the direction of Director Dave West and Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams, will begin a series of street repaving projects expected to last through the end of October.

Of the 17 projects slated for completion by October 31, which marks the conclusion of PennDOT’s construction season, 16 will be done by City of Harrisburg Public Works. Milling and paving gets underway Friday, August 11, with work taking place at 17^th Street between State and Liberty, and 21^st Street between Brookwood and Berryhill. These sections have been prioritized given their location inside school zones.

Streets will undergo milling, a process in which the top layer of the road is grinded up, completed by Shiloh Paving & Excavating Inc., before Public Works adds a layer of fresh pavement to the portion of the street. Projects will take place one at a time, and residents who live on impacted blocks will be given 72 hours notification prior to any work starting.

“Paving equals progress, and what we are seeing starting today is the start of a new Harrisburg,” said Mayor Williams. “One with freshly paved streets, where our cars and bikes can safely travel, and our neighborhoods can take pride in.”

In the recent past, paving projects have been contracted out by the city to outside companies. However, Harrisburg Public Works has been able to grow and maintain its previously depleted staff, and add the necessary equipment to complete the jobs themselves.

All work done by City of Harrisburg employees will be completed by union workers belonging to AFSCME Local 521.

“We are proudly investing in our union workforce to get the job done,” Mayor Williams said. “Anyone who knows me knows I have been pro-union my entire life. Our union workers make this city tick, and I am proud to stand behind them as they help beautify our streets and make them safer.”

The paving projects slated for completion for the rest of 2023 were deemed to be the most urgent by Public Works officials. These locations are in Uptown, Allison Hill, South Harrisburg, and East Harrisburg neighborhoods. It is also not a final list, as more could be added, if necessary, along with new projects to begin in April 2024 when PennDOT’s construction season begins.

A list of projects scheduled for the remainder of 2023, in no particular order, are as follows:

• 17^th Street, between State and Liberty
• 15^th Street, between 22 S. 15^th and Market
• 14^th Street, between Derry and Mayflower
• Chestnut Street, between 15^th and 17^th
• 20^th Street, between Bellevue and Cathedral
• 21^st Street, between Brookwood and Berryhill
• Hale Street, between Magnolia and Rudy
• Wayne Street, between 16^th and 17^th
• Ione Street, between Wayne and Sycamore
• 4^th Street, between Division and Reels
• Atlas Street, between Schyulkill and Seneca
• Hamilton Street, between 3^rd and 5^th
• Reily Street, eastbound lane between 7^th and 6^th
• 6^th Street, southbound lane between Boyd and Reily
• Intersection of 20^th & Zarker
• Intersection of 20^th & Chestnut
• Intersection of 21^st & Chestnut

All projects will be paved by City of Harrisburg Public Works with the exception of the 4^th Street project, which is scheduled to begin in September.