Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski and Department of Parks & Recreation Director Lindsay Taylor cut the ribbon this morning reopening Park Drive in Lehigh Parkway from South Jefferson Street.

The stretch had been closed since June 2015 when a retaining wall collapsed.  The wall was rebuilt and repaired as part of a more than $535,000 project.

City Council approved a contract for the work in February.

Heavy rain on June 20, 2015 caused the collapse of a 50 feet long and 20 feet high section of the solid stone wall which had been constructed by federal Works Progress Administration employees in the 1930s.

The new wall is made of reinforced poured-in-place concrete.  The 20 foot high section on the Little Lehigh Creek side is stamped concrete.  The road side of the wall contains stone facing, giving it a stone wall appearance.

Nearly 125 feet of the original stone wall has been repointed, capped and sealed as part of the project.

“This was a major job that included surveys, design and then the on scene labor,” said Pawlowski.  “It retains its original look from the roadway and should last for decades to come.”

Taylor said, “I want to thank everyone who had a hand in this job.  The work looks beautiful and the cooperation was fantastic.  I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Shane Patrick Associates Inc. of Allentown was awarded the contract for the work.  F.A. Rohrbach, Inc., Penn Mount Stone and Semmel Excavating were subcontractors on the job.  Contractors were assisted in some tasks by city crews.
Information provided by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov

 

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