CRANBERRY TWP — Supervisors agreed Thursday to take on a $5 million debt to help finance the MSA Thruway project.

Financed through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank, the loan has a life of no more than 10 years with an interest rate of 2.5 percent. Payments are due once annually, beginning June 1, 2021.

Township manager Jerry Andree said in February the township secured a letter of credit from the Cranberry Woods developer — Gary Sippel, owner of Sippel Enterprises and Allegheny Excavating — who will reimburse Cranberry for its annual loan payments.

The MSA Thruway project consists of a tunnel constructed under Route 228, connecting the off ramp from northbound Interstate 79 to Cranberry Springs. Nearly 1,300 cars are expected to use the roundabout from I-79 to Cranberry Springs during the morning rush hour, and about 700 vehicles are expected to use the bypass each hour during peak evening times rather than Route 228.

While the township expected groundbreaking on the project to occur this spring, the coronavirus outbreak forced all work to stop for a few weeks. But, Andree said, some of the work has been able to continue after the setback.

“Now, they’ve been given a waiver to continue work on the utilities that are located outside the PennDOT right-of-way,” he said.

New truck

Supervisors also unanimously voted to lend $1.2 million to the Cranberry Township Volunteer Firefighter’s Relief Association to finance the purchase of a tower truck.

Andree said the tower truck is the third piece of a revamped fleet, which the board approved last year. Two engines as part of that fleet have already been delivered, and the truck is the final part of that.

The relief association will pay the township back over the course of 12 years beginning June 1. The loan has a 3 percent interest rate, and the monthly payments will be just south of $10,000.

Fees waived

Residents and businesses will not see penalties or interest on late water, sewer or solid waste bills due April 1, May 1, June 1 or July 1 after the board approved to waive those fees amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

“This has been a tough time for many throughout our community and this is an attempt to help them through this tough time,” said Dick Hadley, chairman of the board of supervisors.

After the July bill, penalties and interest will begin accruing again, and one-half of the fees accrued in July will be charged on the August bill. Any such penalties or interest that would otherwise have accrued prior to July 1 will not be capitalized on later bills.

September bills will reflect the full amount of penalties and interest accrued in August.