Mark Boyce: An article from the Wilkinsburg Sun. March 2025
Laketon Road: The Laketon Road Reconstruction project is the first phase of a two-phase project that will convert the brick portions of Laketon Road and Graham Boulevard from brick roads to asphalt. The project will also install ADA ramps and relocate catch basins as needed along these roads. This project will improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation riders. As borough residents are aware, the borough has a number of aging, brick surfaced roads. A large portion of the bricks that make up these roads are in a state of disrepair due to their old age. More significantly, the road bases below the bricks have been failing for some time. The combination of damaged bricks and failing bases has created undulating road surfaces that are a safety hazard for multimodal users of the roads. To begin addressing this problem, the borough applied for a Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFE) Multimodal Fund (MMF) grant in July 2023 for a $1.4 million project to convert the brick portions of both Laketon Road and Graham Boulevard into asphalt streets. The borough was awarded, in November 2023, a $643,268 MMF grant. This award provided sufficient funds for the design and construction of the Laketon Road portion of the project.
As one who grew up (?) in Wilkinsburg / Western PA, I have always felt the true character of the area started with brick streets. It seems that the era may be coming to its end. If one models Western PA in the 20th century the work you are doing is essential. I love it !!
John
