Kiski Township needs residents' help to address slippery Glorietta Hill Road

Kiski Township is working to stem the risks on accident-prone Glorietta Hill Road, including installing a half-mile-long guardrail and changing the slippery road surface.

The road was closed for several months last year after two firefighters in a pickup truck slid off the road in October, careened down a steep ravine and were injured.

Township supervisors hired Tresco Paving for $2,500 to mill about a half-inch of material off the road surface to give it more traction.

Now, the township and the Armstrong County Department of Planning and Development are asking the road's 10 residents to complete a survey to help land a state Community Development Block Grant to help pay for the work.

“Residents need to complete the survey so we can find out if the township qualifies for the block grant funding,” said Anita Bowser, community development coordinator for Armstrong County's planning department.

Part of the grant requirements include serving low-income residents, so income verification is an important part of the grant process, she said.

She had received three surveys from residents as of Monday. The deadline is May 1.

Supervisor Jack Wilmot said the township needs about $15,000 or more for the guardrail, and the grant money would help pay for the job.

Also, Wilmot is waiting for a report from the township's engineer about a more permanent solution for the road's surface, which easily becomes slippery when wet.

Vehicle speed is a big part of the problem on the 20 mph road, which is a shortcut between Routes 56 and 66, according to Wilmot.

“We can put up all the signs you want, drivers just ignore it,” Wilmot said.

A former police chief who lives along the road, Wilmot said he's had drivers pass him on the narrow, winding road.

Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4691, mthomas@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MaThomas_Trib.