Fallowfield seeking new engineer
The township’s current engineering firm, Hatch, is no longer able to serve due to changes in the company.
Fallowfield Township hopes to soon have a new engineering firm.
Hatch has served as the township’s engineer for many years, but the township is now looking for a new firm.
The township’s engineer received a promotion, and because of the shift, the firm no longer felt they would have the resources to meet the township’s needs based on location.
Though Hatch will remain on to complete a handful of projects already started, supervisors voted last month to hire Gannett Fleming to take over services for the Redds Mill bridge project.
Chairman Bruce Smith said Gannett Fleming is one of the firms the township will consider hiring on a permanent basis.
Smith said Gannet Fleming, based out of Pittsburgh, has a good reputation.
“They are a big, very professional, engineering service and have quite a thorough background from their Pittsburgh office,” Smith said, adding they work with other municipalities in the area.
“We’re hoping to see from giving them this project, how they do, and hopefully this will help us see if we want to stay with them going forward. Time will tell.”
Redds Mill Road has had a few problems over the years, and the township has handled them to the best of their abilities.
Trees have been removed, erosion has been dealt with and a serious draining problem has been corrected.
Now, the road needs to be paved. Supervisor Earl Sadler said there is one high spot that needs to be taken down.
A level coat will be put on the road followed by an inch and a half over lay, and it should be good to go.
“It will be a solid base,” Sadler said. “So, if anyone ever decided they want to go back and build a home there or something, it will be good.”
The project will be put out to bid this week and likely start this spring.
Because Redds Mill Road is the only access point to properties that sit along it, traffic control will help to keep it open during construction.
