Harkins, Merski: $3.3 million loan secured to rehabilitate Erie’s aging stormwater systems

Will fund upgrades to Garrison Run, McDannell Run systems

ERIE, Jan. 12 – A $3.3 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority will allow the city of Erie to rehabilitate the Garrison Run and McDannell Run stormwater systems, state Reps. Pat Harkins and Bob Merski, both D-Erie, announced today.

"The Garrison Run stormwater infrastructure is at the end of its useful life and recently suffered a catastrophic failure, creating a sinkhole that damaged a nearby residence,” Harkins said. “Securing the new funding to allow the city to upgrade both the Garrison Run and McDannell Run systems will help safeguard public health and safety and also eliminate the risk of future property damage.”

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve infrastructure in Erie County, and upgrading our decades-old stormwater systems is a major priority,” Merski said. “The new loan funding will allow the city to make major upgrades to the Garrison Run and McDannell Run systems to ensure that this critical infrastructure serving nearly 40,000 residents is in safe working order.”

The lawmakers said the first stage of the project will involve relining sections of the Garrison Run’s original 96-inch piping with at least 2,700 feet of invert shotcrete; creating connections to 54 in-feeds, 7 manholes and other appurtenances; and repairing an existing concrete headwall located at the discharge point.

The second stage to upgrade the McDannell Run system will rehabilitate two side-by-side stormwater pipes and install approximately 600 feet of shotcrete lining.

This project is slated to start March 1 and be completed by the end of 2023.

The 20-year loan to cover the estimated project cost will carry a 1% interest rate for the first five years, with the rate increasing to 1.743% for the remaining 15. The funding will provide the grant-equivalent of nearly $1.1 million over the life of the loan.

Pennvest specializes in funding sewer, storm water, and drinking water projects across Pennsylvania. Pennvest’s low-cost financial assistance helps make the water that is consumed every day by thousands of Pennsylvanians safe to drink.