CRESSONA - Local business leaders and state officials spoke about several upcoming highway and bridge projects that will create new jobs in Schuylkill County during a press conference Thursday at Northeast Prestressed Products LCC, 135 Gordon Nagle Trail.
Among those speaking were Bob Carl, executive director of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, state Sen. David Argall, R-29, the state Department of Transportation's Executive Deputy Secretary for Administration Bradley L. Mallory and Tom Koons, president of NPP, which specializes in bridge construction.
Two weeks ago, the state legislature passed a bipartisan bill to provide an additional $2.3 billion annually to improve the state's infrastructure.
The projects will begin sometime in 2014.
"The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, representing 845 members and over 16,000 employees, has been on an advocacy mission for many years for comprehensive transportation funding reform legislation," Carl said. "The Transportation Committee of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce worked tirelessly in conjunction with the statewide Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition to lobby for this legislation."
Argall then thanked the chamber for its support and talked about the local impact in the six counties he represents.
"Pennsylvania leads the nation with 24 percent of our bridges deemed structurally deficient," Argall said. "This funding will provide an additional 26 bridge projects, 106 road projects and six safety improvements across this Senate district."
Argall noted that in Schuylkill County, the projects include the reconstruction of Route 61 from Saint Clair to Frackville, resurfacing Route 61 from Route 1008 to the Columbia County line, rehabilitation of Route 309 from Ye Olde Dam Road to the Carbon County line, safety improvements on Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven, a median barrier and minor widening on Route 61 from the Saint Clair bypass to the bifurcation of the roadway in New Castle Township and repaving of Interstate 81 from Pine Grove to the Lebanon County line.
Mallory said that while many people say nothing is made in America anymore, they shouldn't say that to the people who work at NPP, which makes cement products for roadways.
He went on to say that this new funding is important since the improvements need to be made and that safety is the biggest thing, especially with roadways and bridges.
"It has to happen," Mallory said. "It's the right thing to do."
Koons said that the company, which is in its fourth year under new management, was starting to look for its direction for the future, and now with the state's commitment, there will be plenty of new jobs, especially in Schuylkill County.
Koons noted that he has a large sign outside that states he is now hiring and needs many workers from truck drivers to skilled laborers.
"I am thankful for Senator Argall's leadership on this issue to see that the state ensures the safety of its residents," he said. "The will make Pennsylvania's infrastructure a priority."
For a map of local projects, visit www.dotdecade.pa.gov.