Just when it looked like the Mercer County Commissioners were going to make an appearance before Sharon City Council to talk about the stalled Oakland Avenue Viaduct, legal advice will stop the discussion before it begins.

Commissioners, along with state lawmakers and bridge contractor Carmen Paliotta Contracting Inc., South Park, Pa., were invited to attend the council meeting at 6:30 tonight to discuss the viaduct, which was supposed to be completed in November 2001.

Commissioner Olivia Lazor said Wednesday afternoon that the commissioners will not attend the meeting. "At this point in time we're advised (by the county solicitor) not to participate," Mrs. Lazor said.

The decision comes about a week after Paliotta Construction's attorney, D. Matthew Jameson III, Pittsburgh, sent a letter claiming Mercer County is at fault for the delays with the viaduct which spans U.S. Route 62, also known as Connelly Boulevard, in Sharon.

Jameson's letter came in response to council's invitation. He said that the company has a contractual relationship with the county and representatives will not attend the meeting without an OK from county officials.

Sharon council members have been requesting for several months that commissioners attend a council meeting and explain why the viaduct is not complete.

Work on the new viaduct was stopped in early November 2001 after it was discovered that the bridge was out of alignment. Since then the county, which owns the bridge, and the contractor have been wrangling over a way to fix the span.

A mix of state and federal tax dollars are paying for the project, which was estimated to cost $3.6 million.