State Fixes Up Route 17 Water Basin in Heights

The state Department of Transportation began work Tuesday to fix up the water basin at Route 17 South at Franklin Avenue which has been called an 'eye sore' by Heights officials over the years due to lack of maintenance. 

According to the borough's administrator Mike Kronyak the state asked the borough's permission to replace the decorative fencing it had originally put up with a black chain link fence which is said to be more durable.

In recent months parts of the decorative fence had been knocked down due to motor vehicle accidents. The new fencing material is also said to be easier to replace if it were to become damaged, explained Kronyak. 

Mayor Rose Heck has repeatedly contacted the commissioner of the DOT regarding the lack of regular maintenance at the basin site which often is overgrown with weeds and shrubbery. 

Kronyak says the state intends to clean up the site while they replace the fence this week. 

The overgrowth of the greenery has been at the top of the borough's concerns since the state put the basin in place of a traffic island a few years back.