FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2009
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Senators Pileggi, Dinniman Host Meeting on Route 29 Slip Ramp, Turnpike Widening Projects

WEST CHESTER – Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and Senator Andrew Dinniman (D-19) today hosted a meeting with officials from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, along with various local and regional officials, to discuss two important improvement projects on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 

The two projects – construction of a slip ramp to connect the Turnpike with Route 29 and the widening of a six-mile stretch of the Turnpike west of the Valley Forge exit – are estimated to cost approximately $300 million. 

"Both of these projects are critically important to meeting the region’s transportation needs," said Senator Pileggi. "Our goal is to ensure that the Turnpike is working together with state and local officials so that the projects can be completed as quickly as possible." 

"Both the slip ramp and the Turnpike widening are crucial to the continued economic vitality of our region," Senator Dinniman said. "Each project deserves to be developed in a way that is in line with the interests of local residents and communities. That is precisely why we called this meeting to reopen the dialogue with the Turnpike Commission."

"The Turnpike thanks the senators for organizing this meeting," said Acting Turnpike Chairman Timothy J. Carson. "Last week, we reopened a dialogue with the local officials to explore the prospects of resuming these projects under acceptable financial conditions. This meeting was another positive step forward." 

Carol Aichele, Chairman of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, said, "Improving this stretch of the Turnpike and building a slip ramp at Route 29 are projects that are great for the region and great for the state. I am pleased that a productive dialogue with Turnpike officials has resumed." 

Also attending the meeting were other state and local officials, along with local business people who emphasized the importance of both projects in terms of economic development. 

The improvement project calls for the Turnpike to be widened to six lanes between milepost 320 and 326 in Tredyffrin and Upper Merion townships. The part of the Turnpike between Valley Forge and Downingtown is the busiest four-lane section of the highway. It is traveled by nearly 50,000 motorists daily. 

Talks on the two projects were suspended in March when it appeared that some of the design details, including alternative stormwater-control methods, could not be resolved to the satisfaction of all involved parties.          

Contact:

Erik Arneson (Sen. Pileggi)
(717) 787-4712