Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503090085
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``Routing Interstate 73 through Roanoke will bring the greatest level of economic development and new jobs for Virginia and the Roanoke Valley,'' Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, told the subcommittee on surface transportation of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
``We're working to make sure the subcommittee understands that our route makes the most sense, because it gives the Roanoke Valley a new road connection with key markets and also ties this new interstate in with Roanoke's strong railroad and air transportation resources,'' Goodlatte said after appearing with Rep. L.F. Payne, D-Nelson County; Martinez; and George Lester, representing Job Link, which has members from Virginia and North Carolina promoting the Roanoke route.
Job Link wants to link metropolitan areas from Virginia's Roanoke Valley to North Carolina's Piedmont Triad with a 90-mile interstate route, which ``would fill an obvious gap in the old interstate system,'' Lester said.
``Over the years, Franklin and Henry counties in Virginia have watched from the sideline as development occurred along interstate highways in other parts of the nation,'' he said. ``Once a thriving industrial heartland, we have lost more than 10,000 valuable manufacturing jobs in the past 10 years and have become an economic backwater.''
Payne added his endorsement, telling the subcommittee: ``Connecting these communities with an interstate-quality highway would create a market of 1.5 million people within a 90-minute drive, providing a tremendous opportunity for commerce.''
Choosing the Roanoke Valley route could create as many as 5,000 jobs in the region, Payne said. He noted that the route has been endorsed by Virginia's Commonwealth Transportation Board.
Goodlatte offered letters ofsupport from House of Delegates Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County; Del. Clifton ``Chip'' Woodrum, D-Roanoke; Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem; Del. Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke; Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville; Roanoke Mayor David Bowers; Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Chairman Lee Eddy; and Botetourt County Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Layman.
I-73 was authorized in 1991. Congress is to decide its routing this year in establishing the National Highway System, about 159,000 miles of roads that would have priority for federal highway money.
The subcommittee is expected to make its recommendation this spring.
by CNB