It's time to widen the I-81 Interstate in Pennsylvania!

Widening the I-81 Interstate is a real priority for the economic development of Pennsylvania.

 A hot topic during the Franklin County Council of Governments meeting

The I-81 Interstate in Pennsylvania was one of the hottest topics raised during the Franklin County Council of Governments meeting. The project consists on widening the I-81 Interstate in Pennsylvania in six lanes between the Central Scranton Expressway and the Lackawanna-Luzerne County line. It will be a plus for the business development of Pennsylvania

During this meeting, the president of the Franklin County Area Development Corporation Mike Ross said that West Virginia is the only state in the region that widens stretch of this Interstate from four to six lanes. 

So, during his speech, he urged Franklin and Washington Counties to adopt the same resolution. As a reminder, about 48,500 vehicles including 12,000 trucks travel on I-81 south of Chambersburg every day.

  The solidarity of the neighbouring states

 The neighbouring states of Pennsylvania affirm their desire to widen the I-81 Interstate. Maryland and West Virginia plan to spend million to widen the I-81 Bridge over the Potomac River in 2016.

Maryland planned to expand 12 miles of I-81 to six lanes since 2008 and West Virginia is ready to spend .5 million to widen the final three miles of I-81 to six lanes. 

The U.S. Representative said recently that the redesigning of the Interstate 81 corridor is a priority task and this project is one of the important decisions that affect the future of Central New York.

  Economic and safety motivations

 The project on widening the I-81 Interstate in Pennsylvania rises from safety motivations, and an important business development USA, as 12 percent of the economy of the nation output of goods travel through the I-81 Interstate. 

A business development Pennsylvania, including biotech pennsylvania is another motivation for widening of this Interstate, as it distributes products between Charlotte and Toronto. 

Mike Ross specified also that the widening of the Interstate is a priority, as congestion and accident frequency on the Interstate are “out of control”.