A stroll down Main Avenue through the heart of Hawley in Wayne County is quickly turning into a tale of two sidewalks. Business owners helped to fund a year-long PennDOT reconstruction of the walkways, and some argue that the end result is not what they were promised.
Steve Smith owns the Falls Port Inn, a restaurant along Main Avenue in Hawley. He said, "Our problem now is that we're paying for an added plus that isn't really an added plus. The initial drawings called for cobblestone, that was taken out. There have been numerous downgrades to the project in an effort to meet a million dollar budget. We just don't think that million dollars has been wisely spent."
Smith contributed almost $4,000 toward the streetscape project. He said the problems started last year when work carried into December. "The sidewalks are haphazardly installed with haphazard gaps. There's no consistency in the gaps as you walk down the sidewalks," Smith claimed.
Although the owners Falls Port Inn disagree with the way the construction has taken place, directly across the street at Teeter's Furniture Store they have a very different opinion about the construction. "Our business is 160 years old this year and I'd venture to say that the streets in Hawley haven't looked as attractive in that time span as they do now," said owner Dick Teeter.
The president of Hawley Borough Council said any problems that arise are being taken care of. "We took letters from the community and we made up a punch-list so we can correct the issues that we have," said Donald Kyzer.
PennDOT said work on the sidewalks in Hawley should wrap up within the next couple of weeks.
Steve Smith owns the Falls Port Inn, a restaurant along Main Avenue in Hawley. He said, "Our problem now is that we're paying for an added plus that isn't really an added plus. The initial drawings called for cobblestone, that was taken out. There have been numerous downgrades to the project in an effort to meet a million dollar budget. We just don't think that million dollars has been wisely spent."
Smith contributed almost $4,000 toward the streetscape project. He said the problems started last year when work carried into December. "The sidewalks are haphazardly installed with haphazard gaps. There's no consistency in the gaps as you walk down the sidewalks," Smith claimed.
Although the owners Falls Port Inn disagree with the way the construction has taken place, directly across the street at Teeter's Furniture Store they have a very different opinion about the construction. "Our business is 160 years old this year and I'd venture to say that the streets in Hawley haven't looked as attractive in that time span as they do now," said owner Dick Teeter.
The president of Hawley Borough Council said any problems that arise are being taken care of. "We took letters from the community and we made up a punch-list so we can correct the issues that we have," said Donald Kyzer.
PennDOT said work on the sidewalks in Hawley should wrap up within the next couple of weeks.
