Reconstruction

Steps 1-2 will be completed on all streets prior to Steps 3-6 being completed. Therefore there will be some time after work has started on your street when no one will be working; this is due to the fact that they are completing work on the other streets. The time frame listed on the attached schedule is an approximate duration for work to be completed. This time frame may change depending on weather.

The program is scheduled to begin in the spring and rebuilding your street will create some temporary inconvenience. We appreciate your patience as we work to complete a major project that will enhance our community and help ensure your street lasts for another 30 years. Unlike periodic patching and resurfacing, street reconstruction involves removing the old base, replacing deteriorated curb and installing new subsurface drainage before applying a new surface.

During the phases of reconstruction, you will not be able to park on your street. When you cannot use your street or driveway, you may park during the day and overnight on nearby streets where it is legal. You do not have to contact the Police Department. The Municipality will notify the Police Department for you. Please be conscious of other residents when you are parking on the streets. Do not block driveways and be aware of resident’s need to have ample room to back out of their driveways when parking on the streets. The contractor will leave a notice at your front door a few days before construction begins.

Emergency fire, police and medical rescue service will continue as usual, and regular garbage pickup and mail delivery will be maintained. If your street is closed and you need to pick up or drop off a person with a disability or a medical condition, please talk with the Contractor’s foreman. If necessary, he can arrange to have that person transported out of the construction area.

If you are planning to move or are expecting a large delivery during the process, please notify the municipal engineer, as soon as possible. Arrangements will be made if possible; however, you may need to modify your schedule.

If you have an irrigation system or an invisible dog fence please let the Contractor’s foreman know prior to the start of construction. These systems are not marked on the surface so there is the potential for accidental removal by the Contractor.

Step 1

Replacing deteriorated curb can take two weeks or more, depending on the weather. New curb is poured and covered with a curing compound to retain moisture and slow the drying process; the longer the curb “cures,” the stronger it will be. A sealing compound is then applied to the curb and sidewalk to prevent deterioration from road salt. If grass, sidewalks or driveways close to the curb are damaged, they will be repaired before the project is considered complete. The contractor will tell you in advance if and when you need to move your car.

Step 2

Some storm and sanitary sewers, manholes and utilities may be reconstructed during curb and street reconstruction.

Step 3

Utility companies will replace gas and water lines under the street as necessary. This reduces the chance of needing to re-open the new street for repairs in the near future.

Step 4

After the curb is replaced and repaired, the old surface and base will be removed. The excavation could be as deep as 18 inches. The contractor will try to excavate in a way that minimizes the disruption of vehicle access. However, once the existing asphalt, brick or concrete surface is removed from your street and the sub-grade is exposed you will not be able to access your driveway. The curb will also be exposed and at this time will be painted with a waterproofing material. Care should be taken to avoid contact with this material.

If necessary, a sub drain will be installed next to the curb (or where a new curb is installed, the drains will be installed with the curb). This drain will intercept subsurface water, carrying it to the nearest storm sewer and prevent moisture from reaching the street base. This process could take at least two weeks, depending on the weather and how long it takes the utility companies to finish Step 3.

Step 5

Contractors will inspect the exposed sub-grade and decide what areas need replacing. After these areas are repaired, a stabilizing fabric will be applied to the sub-grade, a 6-inch layer of aggregate base will be placed on top of the fabric, and the street will be graded to provide a crown in the center that will help with drainage. Then, a bituminous base will be placed on top of the aggregate base.

Step 6

The final bituminous binder / wearing surfaces will be applied in two layers, each 1-1⁄2 inch thick. To keep out moisture, a hot bituminous seal is applied to the joints where the surface meets the curb. You will not be able to drive on your street for at least three days. The contractor will notify you about 12 hours before beginning this process.

Finally, any disturbed grass areas will be replaced with topsoil, seeded, fertilized and given a heavy soaking of water. From that point on, we ask your cooperation in watering and maintaining the area as you would any newly planted area.

There will be times that no one is working on your street, either because of the phasing of your project or reconstruction work being done by the contractor on other streets in Mt. Lebanon. Be assured that the contractor for the project has developed a tentative schedule and will complete the work as quickly as possible. The actual duration will depend on such things as weather, conditions encountered and the number of utility lines that need replacing. Construction workers are not familiar with the schedule and may not perform any work not specified by their contract with the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon.

Here are a few tips that can stretch the tax dollar, keep your streets looking good and help the project
conclude safely.

1. A construction project poses hazards that can be avoided. Take your time, and walk and drive carefully. Keep children and pets away from the construction area.

2. Barricades prevent traffic and protect you. If for some reason you need to move a barricade, put it back promptly. There are stiff fines for moving construction barricades

3. For several weeks after construction is completed, the road surface will be tacky, especially on hot days. Asphalt is difficult to remove from skin, clothing and hair, so be careful not to track it into the house

4. For the first few months, the new road surface is susceptible to erosion caused by gasoline or oil spills. Please do not park on the street if you have just filled your tank, particularly in hot weather when the fuel may expand and leak onto the pavement

5. During the first few months, turning a car’s front wheels sharply, particularly if it is not in motion, can damage the surface. We appreciate your cooperation

6.  During the phases of reconstruction, you will not be able to park on your street. When you cannot use your street or driveway, you may park during the day and overnight on nearby streets where it is legal. You do not have to contact the Police Department. The Municipality will notify the Police Department for you. Please be conscious of other residents when you are parking on the streets. Do not block driveways and be aware of resident’s need to have ample room to back out of their driveways when parking on the streets. The contractor will leave a notice at your front door a few days before construction begins.

Street Resurfacing

THE 2019 PROGRAM IS NOW COMPLETE. DETAILS FOR THE 2020 PROGRAM WILL BE PUBLISHED ONCE AVAILABLE.

Selection of Streets for Work

Each year Mt. Lebanon makes decisions on work to be completed on streets. Evaluation of streets is completed by the public works department in conjunction with the municipal engineer. Over the past three years the municipal engineer and the department of public works have been actively pursuing avenues to improve the way that we maintain municipal roads. The major part of this effort has been the establishment of a pavement management system. The purpose of a pavement management system is to recommend the most cost effective treatments for our pavements and schedule their applications at the most beneficial time. In other words, get the most bang out of our pavement, maintenance and rehabilitation buck.

At the heart of a Pavement Management Systems (PMA) is the infrastructure database which is the storehouse for all pavement related information collected. Every piece of information in the database is referenced to a particular segment of pavement which it describes. The information collected and stored in the database can be divided into five categories:

• Inventory Data
• Construction Data
• Traffic Data
• Condition Data
• Physical Distress, Roughness, Structural Capacity and Treatment Data

OCI Range	Indicated Treatment
85-100	None
71-84	Minor Repairs
56-70	Major Repairs
0-55	Structural Repairs / Reconstruction

Typically, work on streets is divided between reconstruction and maintenance. Reconstruction is reserved for those streets that have exceeded their useful life and cannot be maintained further. The process includes complete excavation of the existing road, curb replacement as necessary and the rebuilding of the road with under-drains, new aggregate base and new paving. Maintenance is a practice of replacing a portion of the road in order to extend the useful life of the road. The scope of improvements includes spot curb repair and removing and replacing 3" of bituminous material. 

The selection of streets for this year’s Reconstruction and Maintenance Program was determined by the use of the OCI rating along with consideration of traffic volume and ongoing maintenance issues and available funding. 

Final Pavement Management Report and OCI Map