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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Peter J. Daley |
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Daley calls on governor and turnpike to open Expressway missing link
HARRISBURG, Dec. 5 – State Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-Fayette/Washington, wrote to the governor and to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, urging their cooperation in opening an already complete section of the Mon/Fayette Expressway.
“The Expressway, from the drawing boards through the highway that it has become today, was a tool to generate economic development and redevelopment in Pennsylvania – from Pittsburgh to the communities of the Mon Valley, through Uniontown and Brownsville, and finally as a gateway to move people and goods to and from Washington, D.C, West Virginia and Maryland,” Daley said. “As of today, portions of that plan have been realized and are being utilized, but a few missing links remain. One of the missing links – a section from Uniontown to Brownsville – is complete, but the opening is being delayed.
“This isn’t just about convenience for local motorists; it’s about the millions of dollars already invested in this roadway that are being wasted because it is not being used. With two exits already in place, the highway could be opened now, which would allow us to begin to build ridership and provide new alternative routes for individuals making their way to and from the Brownsville area, or traveling to Washington, D.C., West Virginia or Maryland. To me, having a safe highway accessible to the motoring public, especially during the upcoming winter months, should be our priority.”
Daley noted that the need for the expressway today has remained unchanged from the start of its construction in the 1970s.
“The highway is a tool to link various communities situated along the corridor, stimulate economic development, allow people and goods to move through the region safely and efficiently, improve motoring capacity, thereby alleviating traffic congestion and help Pennsylvania to meet its future traffic demands,” Daley said. “It has taken the work of many individuals to bring this project to where we are today. The construction process may have been piecemeal out of necessity, but the value of the project to people and businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh hasn’t changed. As Pennsylvania continues to grapple with how best to fund transportation projects, isn’t prudent to fully utilize the infrastructure we’ve already invested in?”