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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State Rep. Mike
Carroll |
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Commerce Road reconstruction complete
DUPONT, Nov. 19 – State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe, announced today that the reconstruction of Commerce Road in Dupont and Pittston Township has been completed with the help of grant funding he secured, along with state Sens. Bob Mellow and Ray Musto.
Carroll said the reconstruction of this vital roadway into the Grimes Industrial Park will help to preserve nearly 3,000 jobs in that industrial park. The grants resolved a long-standing funding dilemma that had stood in the way of the project's completion.
"I am delighted this important roadway has been rebuilt and will serve our community for many years into the future," Carroll said. "It was imperative this be accomplished for the sake of area employers, their employees and area residents who also use this roadway."
Funding for the project was provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Partners in this effort included Andy Reilly of the Luzerne County Office of Community Development and Jeffrey Box of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, as well as the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce and all elected officials from both Dupont and Pittston Township.
"I'm proud of the leadership exhibited by Dupont borough officials in this effort," Mellow said. "They understand the importance of job retention and job creation in our area and its positive impact on local government and our school district. Clearly, this project provides direct benefits to Dupont's citizens and the community at large."
"The reconstruction of Commerce Road, combined with the bridge replacement on Suscon Road, the repaving of Armstrong Road this spring and the construction of the Airport Connector Road joining Commerce Road to Interstate 81 will create a network of first-class roads and bridges that meet the transportation needs of area industry and business while minimizing traffic on our local roads," Musto said.
Carroll, Mellow and Musto also said they extend their thanks to Rosemary Dessoye and Joe Durkin of the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce for their unwavering support of this project. While the Grimes Industrial Park is located in Dupont and Pittston Township, residents from throughout Greater Pittston and Northeastern Pennsylvania are employed in the park.
"This project has been a much-anticipated and much-needed endeavor," Dessoye said. "Without the cooperation of our state, county and local officials, this project would never have come to pass."
"The Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce has again demonstrated its professionalism and commitment to the community and its employers with its support of this cooperative effort," Carroll said.
Additional work will be completed next spring in the Grimes Industrial Park, including a reconstructed intersection at Commerce and Suscon roads and new directional signage.