Iron Springs Plaza advances

Danielle Ryan

(3/9) Hamiltonban Township Supervisors were pleased to announce that the Iron Springs Plaza project is advancing at last. "Finally after years, the project will be moving forward, which is great news," said Supervisor Chairman Bob Gordon. After some minor delays with permits, the project can finally be sent out for bid. The beginning stages of the project entail infrastructure work for the future plaza.

The bid process was originally intended to be underway by the end of February, and a contractor chosen in March, but the bidding process was delayed due to an expired permit that was necessary for the project. Now that the permit is updated and approved by the Fairfield Municipal Authority, the bid process can commence.

The Township will be accepting sealed proposals for construction of the Iron Springs Road and Fairfield Road (Route 116) Intersection Improvements. This leg of the project includes excavation, bituminous pavement placement, major drainage, signs and signals, construction of handicap accessible/ADA compliant ramps, concrete curb and sidewalk, pavement restoration, pavement marking modifications and related roadway construction items with an anticipated funding amount of $2,035,714 available for construction. Bids will be accepted up until April 3 at the Hamiltonban Township building. The bids will be opened and reviewed the following day.

Hamiltonban Township has thus far been awarded two grants for this project. In August of last year, Hamiltonban Township was awarded its second grant in the amount of $550,000. This grant money will be used for improvements to Fairfield Road and Iron Springs Road, including the intersection of both roads. The grant is run through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Multimodal Transportation Program. This $550,000 grant was added to the $700,000 grant received close to two years ago by PennDOT. The PennDOT grant is intended to help with costs related to the transportation infrastructure; those costs including permitting, road realignment and traffic signals.

Realtor and developer David Sites, of David L. Sites Realty Leasing & Management, Gettysburg, is slated to construct the Iron Springs Plaza shopping center on a 17-acre tract located at the intersection of Iron Springs and Fairfield (Route 116) roads. The land would be subdivided into five lots one of which will contain a 35,000 square foot grocery store, as the plaza anchor business, and a 7,200 square foot retail business. Giant was the original grocery store considered, but later Kennie's Markets was discussed. Both deals have since fallen apart. Other lots are still in the works.

Further news will follow as presented.