SHAMOKIN DAM — Several sources say good news about the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway could accompany a visit to the region by the governor on Friday morning.
Governor Edward G. Rendell, along with U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-10 of Dimock, will present an update on progrress to fund the Central Susquehanna Thruway project. The session is scheeduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Members of the Susquehanna Valley Transportation Project task force and other officials will also be attending the meeting.
Rendell’s office on Thursday referred calls to Carney’s office.
“It should be good news,” said Vincent Rongione, Carney’s spokesman. “It will be worthwhile, and some good progress discussed.”
He declined to comment on just what the news might be.
“We want to preserve the suspense as much as possible,” he said.
“I know Congressman Carney has worked very hard to get the governor to come to the Valley,” said Ryan Unger, senior program analyst with SEDA-COG.
“It’s safe to say that it’s a good sign when the governor spends a morning in the Valley talking about the project,” he said. “A lot of things that need to happen to make it move forward are in the governor’s control. This will certainly help guide it and help it move forward.”
In mid-March, the Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted to send a letter to Rendell urging him to reactivate the Thruway project.
If reactivated now, the project could be included in future funding sources, including the Economic Stimulus Package, chamber members said.
The Board’s letter also urged Rendell to restore sufficient funds to complete the final design of the northern section of the project, the utilities relocation and the right-a-ways.
The most recent roadblock to the project’s progress occurred in February, when Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-5, of Centre County, refused to give up funding for the construction of a stretch of highway in his own district in order to support construction of the Thruway.
The 12 1/2-mile stretch in his district must be improved in order to complete a 1998 congressionally mandated project, Thompson said.
The proposed $418 million Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway would bypass the “Golden Strip” on Routes 11-15 north of Selinsgrove and connect the existing Selinsgrove bypass with Route 147 north of Northumberland via a huge bridge over the Susquehanna River between Winfield and Point Township.
The project has been on the drawing board for three decades, and actively pursued for the past 10 years.
Shamokin Dam Mayor Joe McGranaghan, a long-time supporter of the Thruway project, said on Thursday he did not know what news was to be expected today, calling it a “listen and learn deal.”
“We’re all looking forward to what the governor has to say,” he said.
Whether news of its moving forward, or to explain they can’t do anything, McGranaghan is keeping his thoughts on the bright side. “I think it’s wonderful for him to come, for taking the time to come here and talk to us,” he said. “It will be an exciting day.”
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