Deluzio Secures $800,000 to Repair Failing Section of Old William Penn Highway in Penn Hills
PENN HILLS, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced he secured a $800,000 federal investment to repair a partially collapsed section of Old William Penn Highway in Penn Hills and stave off further collapse and structural failure. The federal funds will support a safer road and easier traffic flow for residents, commuters, and worshippers at the nearby Sri Venkateswara Hindu Temple.
“Whether it’s people getting on the Parkway for their work commute, kids taking buses to school, or worshippers heading to the Sri Venkateswara Temple, the good folks in Penn Hills depend on Old William Penn Highway,” said Congressman Deluzio, “I’m proud to announce I secured $800,000 in federal funding to repair Old William Penn Highway, fix up the structural issues caused by the landslide, and make it a safer and better road for all of us.”
The section of Old William Penn that is currently failing is due to a landslide that is slowly eroding the roadway. Municipal estimations project one more functional winter before the unsafe conditions would force the road to close. The federal funds Deluzio announced today will keep the road functional while the construction takes place. Work has already begun at the site, with workers this week performing geotechnical services in coordination with PennDOT engineers. Photos of the worksite and today’s event can be found here. Livestreamed video of the event is available here.
Old William Penn Highway serves as a main artery in the region, connecting Penn Hills to the Parkway East as well as to the Sri Venkateswara Temple, a major Hindu temple in the region with thousands of members. Residents, local businesses, and commuters support this construction.
This project in Penn Hills is one of fifteen community projects that Congressman Chris Deluzio successfully got funded for Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District through the annual congressional funding bills. His funded projects also included local police departments, fire stations, downtown revitalization, street and water system repairs, and more.
State Senator Jay Costa, Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese, Councilperson Joanne Fascio, and Municipal Manager Scott Andrejchak joined Congressman Deluzio today to highlight these funds, visit the site on Old William Penn Highway, and accept a large check for the project.
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