Biden Expressway mural modernization still a work in progress

Jun. 1—Lackawanna County again seeks artists to paint the Biden Expressway murals.

Uncertain about finalist submissions in the first search, Deputy Chief of Staff Traci Harte issued a new request for proposals this week. The first round produced 16 proposals.

"So we whittled it down to about four that we thought could do it based on their experience working with large-scale murals," Harte said. "So I sent emails to those four. Three were individuals, and one was a group of two men. One person didn't even respond back."

Harte said she and arts and culture director Maureen McGuigan interviewed the remaining finalists.

"The group that Maureen and I felt could really do an excellent job, they said that it would take over a year for them to work on the surface. Now, most of these groups only work in polytab," Harte said.

Polytab is a non-woven fabric, lighter than traditional canvas. The current murals, 17 years old and right where the expressway ends in downtown Scranton, are painted directly on the concrete retaining walls.

Concerned about polytab's durability, Harte said the artists reassured her and McGuigan, but could not alter the time for finishing.

"With projects like this, things often take longer," McGuigan said in a text, referring to the selection process.

Another polytab artist said he could finish more quickly, but rather than rush, they decided to start over and widen the search to artists outside Pennsylvania, Harte said. They also decided to ask for artists who work in spray or aerosol paints.

Submissions are due by June 16 with finalists selected by June 21, according to the latest request for proposals. The finalists' designs are due by July 7 with an award by July 19 and completion by Nov. 30, a week after Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, the county commissioners will soon award a contract to prepare the walls for the new murals. That includes pressure washing to remove existing paint, cleaning the concrete and applying two coats of paint primer, according to a request for proposals. The county received two proposals for the work: Minichi Contracting Group, of Dupont, bid $279,000, Hudak Waterproofing Co., of Taylor, $128,000, according to figures provided by deputy controller Germain Helcoski.

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