Jun 21, 2002 By Amy Karpinsky 4 min read

MEADOWLANDS – The executive committee of the Mon/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway projects said Thursday that support from the public and elected officials has helped the expressway’s development, but more is needed.

“We’ve made a tremendous amount of progress in 10 years,” said David E. Zazworsky of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, who noted that 35 miles of the expressway already are open.

Among the highlights that Zazworsky touched upon is the fact that the 14- to 15-mile stretch from Uniontown-to-Brownsville is in the final design phase.

If everything goes as anticipated, that project could go to construction in 2005.

Zazworsky said the Route 51-to-Pittsburgh section, which is in the public comment period of an environmental impact study, is the “keystone of all projects.”

He urged everyone throughout the region to submit individual letters of support, urging completion of the project. Joe Kirk of the Mon Valley Progress Council said more than 250 letters have been received from Fayette County residents in support of that project, which is two to three years behind the Uniontown-to-Brownsville link.

While thanking everyone for their continued support, Zazworsky said that without the help of the numerous lawmakers that have pushed the project forward, the toll road would still be “on a wish list somewhere.”

Earlier this year, the section of the road from Interstate 70 to Route 51 opened. Two years ago, the section from Uniontown south to West Virginia opened for business. When completed, the road will begin near Morgantown, W.Va., and proceed north through Fayette County, from Uniontown to Brownsville, through the Mon Valley and north to Pittsburgh.

During the semi-annual meeting, updates were given on seven road projects, as well as the high-speed Maglev train that officials are trying to bring to the Pittsburgh area.

Engineer Frank J. Kempf said during the Uniontown-to-Brownsville update that six consultants are on board and the intent is to have a “design field view” at the end of this year. Early next year, public meetings will be held and all affected property owners will be notified.

Kempf said the right-of-way consultant has been selected and preparation work is being done, such as title searches and property value evaluations. He said he doesn’t anticipate that offers will be made for properties until the “design field view” is completed.

When Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites asked for a detailed schedule of completion, Kempf said work on the road has been moving on schedule, and the final design should be ready by the end of 2004. After that, the key ingredient is money.

However, Kempf said the money for final design and right-of-way acquisition is already in place.

“The schedule will proceed as scheduled for at least 21/2 years,” he said.

Although the committee gave official update on efforts to connect the highway to Interstate 68 near Morgantown, W.Va., Kempf said he believes the delay is due to a lack of funding. He suggested to Vicites that a trip to visit U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd may be in order, to stress the importance of completing the road to the Uniontown area.

State Rep. Dave Levdansky said he would like to expedite work on the Route 51-to-Pittsburgh section. Recently, Allegheny County Chief Executive Jim Roddey has spoken out about building that section next. Zazworsky said he would like to move forward seamlessly with that section, but has never seen that occur.

In discussing Maglev, engineer Henry Nutbrown said the idea of having a high-speed train in the Pittsburgh area was conceived 12 years ago.

If the Pittsburgh area is selected as the site for construction, the 50 miles of track will stretch from Greater Pittsburgh International Airport to Greensburg. The train would have stops at the airport, downtown, in Monroeville and in Greensburg. Clark said people could be riding by 2007 at a cost of $5 per section.

The Pittsburgh project and one from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., are vying for millions in federal funds. The cost of the project is estimated at $2.8 billion.

Zazworsky said people who think money for the Mon/Fayette Expressway and Maglev can be used interchangeably are mistaken.

“We need both of them. They serve different purposes. You can’t drive tractor-trailers on Maglev,” he said.