Oct 30, 2002 By Paul Sunyak 3 min read

A delegation of Fayette County officials plans to travel to West Virginia’s state capitol Monday for a high-level meeting concerning completion of a crucial four-mile stretch of the Mon-Fayette Expressway. State Rep. Peter J. Daley (D-California) used a contact he had with the West Virginia Department of Education to arrange the meeting, according to Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites.

“He called me up and he offered a contact in West Virginia who’s with the Department of Education. I urged him to make those contacts and expedite this meeting,” said Vicites. “I’m hoping that the focus of this meeting will be to encourage West Virginia to make sure that they make this a top priority in the new federal highway bill due out in October 2003.

“I hope that we are able to demonstrate how West Virginia will also benefit from building this highway.”

Vicites said that he previously led a delegation that met with Dave Yoder, West Virginia’s representative to Pennsylvania Transportation Executive Committee. Vicites said that West Virginia needs to complete a four-mile stretch of expressway running from the state line south to a Cheat Lake area interchange with Interstate 68.

Vicites said that West Virginia has completed its final design and right-of-way acquisition, and is currently building a bridge near the state line. However, he said three projects need completed -two sections of road and a bridge in the area of the dangerous S-turn on Route 857.

“We are so close to being completed. This thing can be built in two to three years if there’s money put in the federal highway bill. This thing needs $70 million. We could have this thing ready to go by 2005,” said Vicites.

By that time, Vicites said the Uniontown to Brownsville expressway section should be ready for construction. “And we’ll be well on our way to completing the expressway through Fayette County,” he added.

Monday’s powwow in Charleston represents the first wide-scale, face-to-face meeting that local officials have had with their West Virginia counterparts, said Vicites, who hopes that a theme of regional cooperation for mutual benefit will rule the day.

In a press release, Daley, who represents portions of Washington and Fayette counties, said he set up the meeting at Vicites’ urging.

“The Mon-Fayette Expressway has been many years in the making and we in Pennsylvania have shown a definitive commitment to the project,” said Daley. “Now we must make sure that West Virginia is dedicated to finishing the project so we can have this vital transportation link completed as soon as possible.”

Daley said the local delegation would meet with Fred Van Kirk, West Virginia’s secretary of transportation, and Randy Epperly, that state’s deputy secretary for development, along with other West Virginia officials.

According to Daley, invitees from Fayette County include Commissioners Vicites, Sean M. Cavanagh and Ronald M. Nehls; Michael Krajovic, executive vice president of Fay-Penn Economic Development Council; Jim Marzullo, a member of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce Transportation Alliance; and Joe Kirk, executive director of the Mon Valley Progress Council.

Other invitees include state Sens. Richard A. Kasunic (D-Dunbar) and Barry Stout (D-Bentleyville); state Reps. H. William DeWeese (D-Waynesburg), Larry Roberts (D-South Union) and Jim Shaner (D-Dunbar); and U.S. Reps. Frank Mascara (D-Charleroi) and John Murtha (D-Johnstown).

Vicites said that two top officials of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission are also invited to the meeting.