That will be good news to some Steel City residents, although it doesn't go as far as they had asked.

The concrete barriers were put up in 1998 to reduce traffic flow, specifically to people who do not live in Steel City and went there for illegal purposes, Boosel said.

Boosel and Southwest Mercer County Regional Police Chief Joseph Timko said the barriers they have done their job. Crime has been greatly reduced and police are rarely called with reports of violent crime and drug activity that were common before the barriers.

"We both agree the situation has radically changed from when we put them up," Boosel said of a conversation with Timko.

He added that residents have cooperated with security efforts.

Last week, some residents asked that the barriers be removed, arguing that there is no drug activity at the site.

Boosel said the authority will remove the barriers in east-to-west streets, such as Kedron and Kishon, which will allow access to Broadway, but leave the barriers on north-to south streets.

Once the redevelopment of Steel City begins, likely in June or July, all the barriers will be removed, he said.

It will take about a month to remove the first barriers, which require a crane to lift them, Boosel said.