$320K Awarded to Fix Landslide-Damaged Road, Protect High-Quality Stream in Allegheny County
PITTSBURGH — A landslide-damaged road in Moon Township and a steep gravel road near a trout-stocked stream in Bell Acres Borough will be repaired thanks to $320,350 awarded by Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD).
The funding, provided through Pennsylvania’s Dirt, Gravel & Low Volume Roads Maintenance Program (DGLVR), supports projects that reduce sediment pollution, enhance roadway safety, and prevent costly long-term infrastructure damage. Both municipalities are first-time recipients of the program and will be contributing matching funds to the projects.
Dirt, gravel and low volume roads (DGLVR) are an essential part of our transportation system and a major source of pollution. Water runs along roads, picks up pollution and delivers it to nearby streams or lakes, affecting everything from drinking water to flood safety.
Olivia Perfetti, Municipal Engagement Manager at ACCD, inspects a new storm drain to improve drainage on Jacktown Road in Elizabeth Township.
Sediment is the leading pollutant in Pennsylvania’s waterways, entering streams primarily through runoff from roads and other sources and contributing to an estimated 88 percent of impaired stream miles statewide.
ACCD's DGLVR grant program provides education, technical assistance and funding to improve roads and subsequently the landscapes they travel through. Every year, projects are funded that promote cost-effective, environmentally-sound maintenance practices to correct pollution and improve safety. The new DGLVR grant cycle opens on June 1, 2026.
In Moon Township, ACCD awarded $120,000 to stabilize Pine Drive, a residential road that was reduced to one lane after a landslide several years ago. The project, located above the warm water fishery of Narrows Run, will reinforce the failing slope and address stormwater runoff issues to prevent the road’s closure and ensure the roadway remains accessible to residents.
In Bell Acres, $200,350 will support drainage and surfacing improvements to Beadnell Drive, a steep gravel road located near a trout stocked stream. The project includes installing crosspipes, stabilizing outlets, and improving the surface to limit sediment in the unnamed tributary flowing to Big Sewickley Creek.
“For 80 years, ACCD has worked alongside municipalities to solve problems like these at their source,” said Executive Director Heather Manzo. “These investments help municipalities avoid far more costly repairs down the line while keeping sediment out of the streams that communities rely on for drinking water and recreation.”
Tom Methvan, Director of Public Works for Elizabeth Township, highlights improvements to Jacktown Road and water quality benefits for nearby Wylie Run.
Since its introduction to Allegheny County in 1998, the program has invested more than $4.5 million in local roadway and stormwater improvements, improving 34.2 miles of road across 22 municipalities.
“By fixing small roads, we’re tackling the largest pollutant in Pennsylvania’s waterways,” said Riley Kinney, Water Quality and Infrastructure Manager at ACCD. “These projects are designed to stop that pollution before it reaches nearby streams.”
Tom Methvan, Director of Public Works for Elizabeth Township, and Makenzie Priest, Resource Conservationist at ACCD, discuss improvements to Jacktown Road in Elizabeth Township.
ABOUT ACCD
Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) is the trusted soil and water conservation partner in Allegheny County. As part of a national regulatory network tasked with the mission to protect, restore and preserve our natural resources, ACCD’s work focuses specifically on the keystones of our environment – soil and water. ACCD leads robust programs designed for urban and rural agriculture; facilitates professional workshops and trainings; provides access to funding; educates professionals, public representatives and the general public; and acts as the state permitting authority for four PA clean water laws.