Clinton County supports 'rooftop highway'

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September 24, 2009

By JOE LoTEMPLIO The Press Republican Thu Sep 24, 2009, 11:28 PM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — Clinton County legislators offered support for a proposed "rooftop highway" across Northern New York.

At their meeting Wednesday night, legislators unanimously approved the idea of a four-lane highway stretching from Watertown in the west to Lake Champlain in the east, with possible spurs to Champlain and Plattsburgh.

The route would mirror Route 11 across the northern section of the state and could cost between $2 billion and $4 billion.

"This idea has been around for 40 years, and if we don't get it now, with all this stimulus money, it's gone. We will never get it," Legislator Sam Trombley (R-Area 2, Ellenburg) said.

The highway plan has been around since 1961, but it has never gained momentum in terms of funding commitments from state or federal agencies.

But interest has been revitalized in recent years, and the Northern Corridor Transportation Group out of Massena has formally asked U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to seek $800 million in federal funds for the project, which is now labeled Interstate 98.

The group is seeking support from municipalities along the proposed corridor to generate more interest in hopes of moving the project forward.

The Town and City of Plattsburgh recently voted to support the plan, although the city council was split on the issue. Mayor Donald Kasprzak broke the tie vote in favor of the project.

County legislators had no such dissent.

"This project could create up to 27,000 jobs, and we need that," Trombley said, noting that the original price tag of the project was about $500 million.

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com