WEST PITTSTON — Local, state and federal officials gathered a Damon St. to unveil plans for a Exeter Avenue Neighborhood Sidewalk Project funded by four separate state and federal grants totaling $842,5000 involving three separate construction contracts.
On hand for the announcement conducted by West Pittston Mayor Angelo Alfano was Cong. Rob Bresnahan, State Sen. Marty Flynn, State Rep. Jim Haddock, and West Pittston council members and Borough manager.
The first of three projects will begin this week from Damon St. to Ledgeview Dr. from $200,000 through the Commonwealth Financing Authority Multimodal Transportation Fund (CFAMTF).
Two other segments will be in 2027 — one in the spring and the second during the second half of the year.
In the spring of 2027, grants, one for $100,000 through the CFAMTF and $197,500 through the Luzerne Co. Development Block Grant for Exeter Ave. sidewalk and streetscape improvements and streetscaping from Damon St. to Ann St.
The second half of 2027 project includes a $345,000 sidewalk and streetscape improvements from Damon St. to Wilkern St. through the PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund.
Mayor Alfano, who conducted the press event, spoke on the streets involved for the makeover.
We’re here to highlight our future streetscaping projects,” Alfano said. “ We’re going to replace sidewalks from Exeter Ave., up to Foundry St., and here on Damon St. We’re also going put in new sidewalks from Exeter Ave. to the first house in Ledgeview.”
Alfano noted because West Pittston is geographically flat without many hill, many people from outside of West Pittston walk the community streets for exercise.
“Everybody loves to come over here, it’s nice and flat. So we’ll have more sidewalks for everybody to use to walk around and obviously, the people I have around me are who we have to thank.” Alfano thanked Sen. Flynn, Rep. Haddock, and Cong. Bresnahan, for the grants made available to the borough in 2025.
On a side note, Alfano mentioned accepting the Borough’s new recycling packer truck paid for from an LSA grant applied in 2025, as well as two-thirds of the sewer separation project has been completed.