Progress

January 16, 2009

A third bright statement for W-B: More lights

Final phase of $7.3M project in downtown begins with first of 116 new streetlights put in.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – The first of 116 new streetlights was installed Thursday on North Washington Street as the third phase of the $7.3 million Downtown Wilkes-Barre Streetlight and Streetscape Enhancement Project began.

Mayor Tom Leighton presided over the raising of the first light pole in front of Coughlin High School. Leighton said that when the third phase is completed, more than 300 streetlights will have been installed in the city’s downtown in just over three years.

“As a result of this ambitious, extensive project, downtown Wilkes-Barre is a safer, more attractive place to live, work and enjoy,” Leighton said.

This phase of the city’s comprehensive street lighting plan for the downtown will add 116 light poles to sections of Franklin, Washington, Northampton and Union streets.

The mayor said the streetlights will provide light and security to heavily frequented downtown businesses and organizations including Coughlin High School, the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA, the Osterhout Free Library, the parking areas at Midtown Village, Boscov’s and Citizen’s Bank, the Kirby Health Center, the Catholic Youth Center, and areas near King’s College and Wilkes University.

“The positive effects of the Downtown Streetlight and Streetscape Project were immediately apparent after the first phase was completed,” Leighton said. “People felt more comfortable walking through the streets after dark and more businesses opened their doors. The city of Wilkes-Barre looks forward to the similar positive impact these new lights will have on four busy downtown streets.”

Joining Leighton for the ceremony were state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre; Tom Williams of U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski’s office; Bernie Mengeringhausen, city controller; Todd Vonderheid, president/CEO of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry; Patricia Fritsky, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; Ahmad Mahmoud, of Kuharchik Construction Inc.; and Coughlin Principal Gina Bartoletti.

There will be 63 streetlights installed on Franklin Street, 27 on Washington Street, 11 on Northampton Street and 15 on Union Street. Leighton said Kuharchik Construction Inc. expects the project to be completed by July.

During the $866,000 second phase of the project in 2007, 56 new poles and 71 new luminaries were installed on North Main Street between Public Square and North Street. In 2006, 157 streetlight poles were installed along one block of Northampton Street, two blocks of South Main Street, two blocks of West Market Street, two blocks of East Market Street and Public Square.

There are two styles of streetlight poles – the 12-foot poles with sidewalk pedestrian lighting and the 25-foot poles with combination teardrop-style street lights and lantern-style pedestrian luminaries, Leighton said.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.

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