South Allen and South Fraser streets in downtown State College will remain closed to thru traffic into next week for work on the borough’s Calder Way project but are expected to reopen in the coming weeks.
The 100 block of South Fraser Street has been closed to vehicles between Calder Way and West College Avenue since Monday for sanitary sewer and water line replacements at the Calder intersection. It is scheduled to reopen the week of Aug. 12, according to the borough.
Until then, the upper portion of the block, including access to the Fraser Street parking garage, is open from West Beaver Avenue.
South Allen Street has been closed to traffic between College Avenue and Calder Way since the week of May 20 for utility replacements. It is now scheduled to reopen the week of Aug. 19.
An unforeseen utility issue caused a delay in the work at the Allen and Calder intersection, according to Elton Hayes, the borough’s spokesperson for the project.
“Telecommunications conduit was disturbed when the contractor excavated at the intersection of Calder Way and Allen Street,” Hayes said. “The contractor had to wait until the owner of the utility could visit the site and assess the situation, which caused a delay in construction. The utility’s owner has since visited the site and worked with the contractor on a resolution.”
Local traffic can access the upper portion of the 100 block of South Allen Street from Beaver Avenue.
Calder Way remains closed to vehicle traffic between Pugh and Allen streets but is open to pedestrians. It is closed to vehicles and pedestrians between Allen and Fraser streets.
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.
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 second phase of the project is expected to go out to bid later this summer.
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 and ADA upgrades at all intersections with detectable warning devices. Project plans, which are still to be finalized, may also include 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.
