Pocono News Section

Local Support Strong for Federal Stimulus Projects

Local Support Strong for Federal Stimulus Projects - Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 04:06AM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Tuesday May 11 2010
$45 million worth of federal stimulus money is at work in central Pennsylvania.

That funding has been split up into 48 projects in the 9-county central PA region.

But how do people feel about the projects being completed?

We checked out three of them, and asked the public for their opinions.

At just over $3 million, the biggest, most expensive project is a rehabilitation of two bridges on Interstate 180 near McEwensville in Northumberland County.

People here hope the improvements will erase the state's long-standing reputation for having a poor infrastructure.

Rovendale Auto Supply manager Seth Cole said, "It's a good thing to get our bridges up to snuff. And if the money's bringing jobs or bringing guys back to jobs, that's great. As long as they're spending the money where they're supposed to."

Just a few miles away near West Milton in Union County, rehabilitation is ongoing for twin bridges along Route 15.

Local truckers say they're willing to deal with the inconvenience in exchange for safer travel.

Truck driver Earnest Hower explained, "Well you gotta stop a lot of places as far as the construction work. But like I said, I still think it's a good deal. It has to be done."

Further north in Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, a resurfacing project on Allegheny Street also includes sidewalk improvements and better handicapped accessibility.

Ramona Clinger, of Jersey Shore, said, "I think it's really nice because it helps the older people that have to use the wheelchairs and accessories to get around. It's really nice for them."

And while he appreciates the additional funding, PennDOT spokesman Rick Mason warns that the shot in the arm provided by the federal stimulus is strictly a one-time bonus.

Mason noted, "It is a one-shot deal. And we need transportation funding that we can rely on year in and year out just to maintain the vast network of roads and bridges that we have in Pennsylvania."

Statewide, PennDOT estimates we've landed just over one billion dollars in federal stimulus funding.

They believe that money has kept at least 5,000 people on the payroll, and off the unemployment line.