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$20 Million Secured to Complete Key Stretch of Route 22
Reconstruction Project
Posted 04-07-2004
Westmoreland County Commissioners Tom Balya and Tom Ceraso today announced that $20
million in "spike" funding has been secured to complete a critical four-mile
stretch of the Route 22 reconstruction project through Export.
The funds will be used to complete the BO-2
section of the highway, which will result in four lanes from Cozy Inn Road to Route 66.
"Spike" funding is a special allocation awarded by the state Secretary of
Transportation for worthy projects.
"We are very pleased that the
Secretary recognized the importance of adequately funding Route 22 to keep this project on
course," Balya said.
Balya noted that for the first time since
"spike" funding became part of the transportation funding process, southwestern
Pennsylvania received a sizable portion of the money. The total for the 10-county region
was $43 million, with the BO-2 section of Route 22 in Westmoreland County receiving nearly
half of the region's allocation.
Identifying transportation projects that
were candidates for "spike" funding was done through a process conducted by the
Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission. Commissioners Balya and Ceraso serve as members of
SPC.
"No project was more ready to go than
the BO-2 section of Route 22, and we felt that it was the ideal candidate for 'spike'
funding," Ceraso said. "Now, the project should stay on schedule."
Commissioners Balya and Ceraso also
acknowledged the help and support of State Senators Allen Kukovich and Don White, and
State Representatives John Pallone and Joe Markosek.
The original funding for the BO-2 section
had to be moved to complete construction on other phases of the highway project. Without
"spike" funds, Westmoreland County faced the possibility of canceling other
worthy projects to fund Route 22.
"Even with the $20 million in 'spike'
funding the county will have to apply $10 million in 2006 or 2007 to complete the
construction of BO-2," Balya said. "But the unified front of the county and
state legislators helped secure the critical funding for this project." |
