A portion of South Allen Street in downtown State College will remain closed to vehicular traffic while crews begin utility replacements this week as part of the ongoing Calder Way project.
Starting Monday, the contractor will be installing storm sewer, sanitary sewer, telecommunications, electric, stormwater and gas utilities on the 100 block of South Allen Street at the Calder Way intersection, according to a borough news release. The road will be closed to traffic between College Avenue and Calder Way.
The road was first closed between the two intersections last week for crews to replace a water main.
Fencing has been placed along the footprint of the work zone, and flaggers will assist with vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Limited local traffic can access the upper portion of the 100 block of South Allen Street from Beaver Avenue.
Crews also will resume storm sewer system replacement on East Calder Way from McAllister Alley to Pugh Street. A long-term closure on that section of Calder Way remains in place.
The work is part of the mulit-year Calder Way project to replace aging utility infrastructure and create a more pedestrian friendly space on the downtown alley,
First phase work on the project is occurring this year between McAllister and South Fraser streets. It includes replacement of sanitary sewer, stormwater, water main and gas main lines and providing provisions for electric and telecommunications lines to be moved underground. Some utility replacement is also taking place on Kelly and Humes alleys, as well as at the Allen Street intersection.
Future phases through 2027 will involve similar work on the rest of the road, with the project bordered by Hiester and South Burrowes streets.
The overall project aims to transform Calder Way into a “pedestrian-preferred” corridor with limited vehicular traffic, “replacing curbed sidewalks with more artistic measures and the incorporation of other streetscape enhancements from Hiester to Burrowes,” according to the borough’s 2023-27 Capital Improvement Plan.
Streetscape and transportation work will include widened sidewalks to provide an at-grade pathway using stamped concrete, ADA upgrades at all intersections with detectable warning devices. The project plans also call for installation of retractable bollards for traffic control and new lighting, greenery and public art.
The first phase is funded by a a $2.4 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (Pennvest), as well as American Rescue Plan Act funds set aside for the project and $1.7 million from the State College Borough Water Authority for replacement of a water main that has reached the end of its useful life.
State College also received in late 2023 $2.75 million in grants to replace aging water, sanitary sewer and stormwater infrastructure on Calder Way from Pennsylvania’s Small Water and Sewer Program and H20 PA, which are funded from American Rescue Plan Act money and administered by the Commonwealth Finance Authority.
