Feb 24, 2003 By Jenny Susa 4 min read

NEWELL – Joe Kirk, executive director of the Mon Valley Progress Council, gave members of the Tri-County Boroughs Association an update on the Mon Valley Expressway. “It has been hard to keep this project moving forward, but when I came on board, I welcomed the opportunity to join in this effort,” said Kirk.

He said that when they first began discussing the project, it was believed by many state elected officials that there would never be enough money to complete the expressway, and they have also face a lot of opposition along the way.

“The progress we have made is a great tribute to officials such as Frank Mascara, county commissioners and others in state government who knew that we needed to get this project done to make a difference in our economy,” said Kirk. “This was a situation where we had many people who fought to oppose it, and now we have people who are fighting to get it done.”

He explained which parts of the expressway have been opened so far and which ones are still in construction or still in planning.

He said they have also been given “the green light” to continue with the highway from Brownsville to Uniontown. Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicities said the land acquisition for that part of the project will begin in the spring.

He commented that the part of the highway from Route 51 to Pittsburgh continues to be a battle for them because of reluctant county commissioners and mayors.

“We enjoy a lot of support from elected officials in this project, but there are certain groups who are opposed to it,” said Kirk. “They are against providing a means of economic growth. They believe that highways are the ill of our society. We feel very differently about that.”

He said that while there is time to get government officials together to find the financing to complete this project, “the clock is ticking.”

“We need as much support as the citizens can give to say that we need this project to be completed to help this area economically,” said Kirk.

As a former U.S. congressman, Mascara said he knows that many people are opposed to the project because they want to preserve their neighborhoods and keep them from being disturbed. He reinforced the idea that the highway would only help people living in the area.

“If we are ever going to recover from recession this highway needs to be built,” said Mascara. “There is no other solution.”

All those in favor of the project say the highway will provide safe, efficient transportation improvements from Rout 51 to Pittsburgh and Monroeville. Kirk said it would also encourage redevelopment of abandoned industrial sites and revitalization of neighborhoods, as well as, reduce traffic congestion on local roadways in the southern and eastern portions of Allegheny County.

He said the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the project is now being prepared.

In other matters, District Attorney Nancy Vernon addressed the board and members of the audience about drug use and home invasions.

“All of us have a common problem lately and that is the issue of home invasion,” said Vernon. “We have just caught someone who had done it in the Fairchance, Masontown and West Virginia areas. I would venture to say that many of these invasions are caused by drug use. I say this because people have to find the money to support their habits.”

She added that most people who are addicted to drugs will do anything to get the money they need to buy them.

“I would advise everyone not to open the doors for people you don’t know,” said Vernon. “It’s a shame we can’t trust everyone because we all remember the days when it was safe. But we need to be cautious to protect ourselves and our families.”

She said that in Fayette County they have a Drug Task force of 35 officers and offered help to any communities in the area that might need it.

“We would be more than happy to go into the surrounding communities to provide assistance,” said Vernon.

The next meeting of the Tri-County Boroughs Association will be March 20 in Donora. Secretary Bill Klamorick said that they are looking for new members and invited all boroughs who are not members to attend a meeting to see if they would be interested in joining.