Nov 20, 2002 By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

During Tuesday’s visit to Harrisburg as part of a group to lobby for funding for completion of the Mon/Fayette Expressway, Fayette County Commission Chairman Vincent A. Vicites took the opportunity to push for completion of the West Virginia link of the road. Vicites and about 50 other people took a bus on a trip organized by the Mon Valley Progress Council to seek support for the Mon/Fayette Expressway and Southern Beltway projects. As a part of the trip, expressway supporters met with legislators from southwestern Pennsylvania.

As a featured part of the itinerary, Governor-Elect Ed Rendell spoke to the group and pledged his support for completion of the highway projects. Although completion of the Uniontown to Brownsville link of the toll road will directly impact Fayette County, extending the highway into West Virginia to link with Interstate 68 is also a part of the project.

After Rendell entered the room to speak, Vicites said he sought out Rendell’s former campaign manager, David Sweet, and gave Sweet a letter Vicites had written to Rendell. Vicites’ letter urges Rendell to contact West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise and work cooperatively with him to ensure completion of the last 2.4 miles of road.

“Reliable, safe roads are important to creating and enhancing economic development. Completion of this highway is invaluable to Fayette County residents and the region overall,” Vicites wrote. He said that he stressed to Sweet how vital Rendell’s leadership is in helping to secure the money needed for the West Virginia highway.

“It’s really the gateway to the south and is a critical corridor that needs to be opened,” Vicites said of the West Virginia section. He said once the West Virginia link is opened, Fayette County will grow tremendously with private investment.

“It’s vital we get it done as soon as possible,” Vicites said.

Vicites and other officials from Fayette County recently attended a meeting in Charleston, W.Va., with West Virginia officials to stress the need to complete the Mason Dixon link of the road. To date, 2.5 miles of pavement has been poured and a bridge is under construction.

An additional $51 million, including $40 million in federal funds and $11 million local money, is needed to complete the road.

West Virginia officials have said they can secure the local funding but help is needed to secure the federal money.

Late next year, the federal highway bill will be approved and Vicites has said it is vital to have money for the Mason Dixon link included in it.

“The project has been successful in completing the final design, finished the right-of-way acquisitions as well as bridge completions,” Vicites wrote in his letter to Rendell. A lack of funding has stalled the project.

State Rep. Pete Daley, D-California and Vicites organized the West Virginia visit. As a follow-up, Vicites said they are planning to meet with federal legislators from Pennsylvania after the first of the year to further stress the importance of the West Virginia link for Pennsylvania.

Another drive for funding is also being planned by the Mon Valley Progress Council, this time to Washington, D.C. The group will take a bus next spring in anticipation of the upcoming federal highway bill.