It is reported that Allegheny Technologies Inc plans to start demolition from April 1st 20009 of a portion of the Allegheny Ludlum Brackenridge Works to make way for a new hot strip mill.

Mr Mayor Jeff Cowan and Mr Ron Dunlap councilman said that they were given notice of the start date at a meeting with ATI officials last week.

Mr Cowan said that "They are going to start restricting their people from parking in their lots along Mile Lock Lane." He added that although no firm date was given for when those lots will be placed off limits, Cowan said council has to start taking a look at if and how the loss of that parking will impact parking on nearby Third Avenue. Third Avenue is a residential street and intersects with Mile Lock Lane, where the steel mill is located. It also is adjacent to a large parking lot and ball field that ATI also owns.

Mr Larry Chifulini president of Allegheny Technologies said that "The people who live on Third Avenue park in front of their houses; there are very few driveways. The problem is not going to be the people who live on Third Avenue. The problem is going to be the mill workers parking on Third Avenue."

Mr Cowan said that he wants the borough to be proactive in heading off any problems and preventing Ludlum employees from getting in the habit of parking along the street. He added that "On Third Avenue, I think I'm going to have the police be a little more aggressive with illegal parking."

Mr Chifulini said that "We are just going to table it and see. We are going to wait for the traffic consultants to finish their study. This way, we would have something in hand from the contractor saying this is what you should do."

He referred to GAI Consultants of Murrysville whom the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development hired to do a traffic impact study and make recommendations. Chifulini said that study should begin within the next two weeks.

As for Ludlum closing the lots along Mile Lock Lane, he said that definitely will take place before the start of demolition. He added that ATI is investing between USD 1 billion and USD 1.3 billion in construction of the state of the art mill, which is expect to take three years to complete. Apparently it will necessitate a change in traffic patterns on Mile Lock, a key traffic artery, and adjacent streets since Ludlum has not acquired all the property it wanted.