Roads to occupy Lackawaxen

By DAVID HULSE

LACKAWAXEN, PA — The new year will see the beginning of what is to be a two-year program of road improvements in the township.

The first part of the program was formalized in December when the supervisors approved a new budget including a .5 mill tax rate increase, raising some $57,000 for contract road projects.

But most of that work will occur in 2004, Roadmaster Richard Krochta said.

	TRR file photo by David Hulse Lackawaxen supervisors, from the left, Richard Krochta, Brian Stuart and John McKay. (Click for larger image)

By then, the state’s Liquid Fuels Tax funds, which will pay for local highway work this season, will be allocated to replace aging highway equipment.

The increase is likely to be duplicated in 2004 to continue the work for the following year, officials said.

This season, Krochta said Lackawaxen will be paving the upper and lower ends of Westcolang Road, which takes much of the traffic from the Fawn Lake and Masthope Rapids residential areas. Paving will cover the length between State Route 1014 and the Masthope main gate and from Route 590 to the Fawn Lake gate.

“If the money holds out,” the township will also tar and chip Pine Forest and Williams roads, he said.

Lackawaxen has some 50 miles of roads to maintain. Only about 12 to 15 miles of that are paved. The township spends up to $60,000 annually on paving projects.