Progress on the Three Degree Road turnback in Valencia Borough is rolling right along, according to council president Brian Himmelstein.

“Valencia borough has completed and signed the transfer agreement,” Himmelstein said.

The coordinating deposit of roughly $514,843 from PennDOT has also been transferred into the borough's account.

Valencia along with Adams Township officials have been working with PennDOT for years on a project that will allow the municipalities to own and maintain Three Degree Road.

Himmelstein said when Adams Township originally got involved in the turnback of its portion of Three Degree Road, PennDOT indicated it was an all-or-nothing situation.

Adams Township asked if Valencia borough would be interested in participating, according to Himmelstein. About .5 miles of Three Degree is in Valencia.

Himmelstein said a maintenance agreement followed.

“We purposed that we would pay Adams our portion of liquid fuels for .552 miles — which is about $2,400 — mostly to cover winter maintenance,” Himmelstein said. “When Adams decides to seal or repave, Valencia will use our liquid fuels to pay for it.”

Himmelstein said for Valencia, the financial impact has been minimal.

The work that needs to be done on the borough's portion of Three Degree is largely limited to tree trimming, pipe and culvert replacement, some repaving and guardrail work, according to Himmelstein.

“We are hopeful that when it goes out for bid that we won't exceed the allocation from PennDOT,” Himmelstein said.

The next step for the borough is to wait for PennDOT's 2020 payment to Adams Township, according to Himmelstein.

Once that's in place, he said both municipalities plan to send Phase 1 of the project out for bid.

As previously reported by the Eagle, Adams Township officials have announced the road will undergo a three-part paving schedule they hope to have completed in 2023.

“This is a good way to work together to make the road safer for everyone,” Himmelstein said. “Looking ahead to the completion of Route 228, it makes sense that we improve Three Degree Road.”