The Oldcastle Precast Croydon plant near Philadelphia is shipping upward of 15,000 ft. of reinforced concrete drainage pipe and 62 precast fittings for the “Broad Street Betterment Program” along Route 93 in Hazelton, Pa. Pipe of 12- to 27-in. diameter is being placed alongside underground businesses, dating to the late 19th century but since covered up by Broad St. Fifteen vault-like stores will be opened up, supported from below, and then filled to bear sidewalk and curb/roadway traffic.
Performance and durability characteristics of the new pipe and fittings stand to carry Broad St. stormwater conveyance into the 22nd century. The Croydon plant is supplying all product to Oldcastle Materials sister business Pennsy Supply (Slusser Bros.), general contractor on the $27.4 million project, scheduled for late-2013 completion. Administerd by Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 4, it sees upgraded drainage, plus lane reconfiguration improving downtown area traffic flow and pedestrian accommodation.