POTTERS MILLS – PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch yesterday urged the state’s general assembly to act on a transportation spending plan that will improve safety, spur economic development and improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania citizens. Schoch made the plea during an event along U.S. 322, highlighting infrastructure’s impacts on safety and the regional economy.
Schoch noted that U.S. 322 would see significant improvements that would help ease traffic delays and safety concerns if a plan like Gov. Tom Corbett’s, which was announced in February, is passed by the legislature. The highway would be improved from Seven Mountains to Boalsburg through two projects:
• An estimated $105 million project, known as Potters Mills Gap, would create a fully divided, four-lane roadway east from the Route 144/322 intersection to the top of Seven Mountains, near the Centre/Mifflin County line.
• Additional improvements along the U.S. 322 corridor at an estimated cost of $300 million.
“Governor Corbett has called on the state legislature to pass a transportation funding plan that will help us improve safety and keep Pennsylvania moving,” Schoch said. “Projects such as Potters Mills Gap have been waiting for far too long and if the legislature acts on transportation funding we will widen nearly four miles of this roadway, bring it up to current standards and ultimately improve safety for the thousands of people who travel on this roadway every day.”
More than 13,000 vehicles travel on this section of roadway every day and that number increases to roughly 20,000 during Penn State home football games.
Schoch also noted that with additional investment, many other regional projects could be completed such as:
• Reconstructing 4.5 miles of Atherton Street in State College from Lowes Boulevard to Branch Road for and estimated $29 million;
• Constructing a new interchange on Interstate 99 at Toftrees and Waddle Road in State College for an estimated $13 million; and
• Resurfacing and bridge preservation along a 10-mile stretch of U.S. 22 in Juniata County for and estimated $20 million.
Schoch was joined by PennDOT District 2 Executive Kevin Kline as well as other state and local officials.
To learn more about Corbett’s plan to improve safety, drive economic competitiveness and create jobs through transportation investment, visit www.dot.state.pa.us.