Harvey Peeler Continues Fight to Expand I-85
April 6th, 2010Files Legislation Creating I-85 Cherokee-Spartanburg Corridor Authority
(Gaffney, SC) State Senator Harvey Peeler today announced his efforts to establish the I-85 Cherokee Spartanburg Corridor Authority to oversee the recommendations of Department of Transportation’s I-85 widening report, which was issued back in June 2007. Senator Peeler believes the DOT has been lax in taking up the recommendations and it’s costing our region the opportunity for new jobs.
“We’ve seen money pouring into the coast and yes, Boeing was a good investment, but its time for equal economic development vigor in the Upstate, particularly I-85, Peeler said. “We can’t recruit new high paying industry without a strong infrastructure and the I-85 corridor between Cowpens and the North Carolina line need attention for economic development and safety reasons.”
Senator Peeler continued “it’s become pretty obvious that the state’s DOT is going to continue ignoring this problem, so I’m making I-85 my new Highway 5 (Highway 198 and Highway 5 between Blacksburg and York) effort.
The new authority will comprise of seven members – three appointed by the Senate, three appointed by the House and the President of Spartanburg Community College. Its mission is to work with any and all agencies to fund the I-85 widening and necessary water and sewer projects through grants, public and private donations, gifts and federal funds.
“Our region has been hit hard during this economic downturn and its time we hit back,” Peeler said.
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