Saturday, January 22, 2000 Cecil Twp. residents question officials about Beltway plan BY BARBARA S. MILLER THE OBSERVER-REPORTER The state Turnpike Commission is sending legal notices to residents in northern portions of Washington County and southern portions of Allegheny County that representatives may be entering properties as part of the commission's ongoing evaluation of alternatives for the 12-mile Southern Beltway. Based on the reaction of some residents who brought the letter to the attention of the Cecil Township supervisors this week, Turnpike Commission representatives may not exactly be welcomed with open arms. "Two years ago, we told them to keep their road in Allegheny County. Now they're trying to shave off a corner of Cecil Township to save money," said Patricia Walker of Reissing Road. Residents questioned the supervisors about their position on the Southern Beltway, which aims to connect the Mon/Fayette Expressway to Route 60 near Pittsburgh International Airport. "I don't know where you got the idea we're supporting it," replied Supervisor Robert (Handle) Roberts. "Keep it out of the township - we've never changed that." The Turnpike Commission has not chosen a route for the proposed road, but has developed several alternatives. Two of the alternatives mapped out to connect the Mon/Fayette Expressway to Interstate 79 extend through Cecil Township, to the east of Morganza Road. Attached to a copy of the letter received Tuesday by Cecil Township was a list of about 70 Cecil residents who will also be receiving notification. About 350 property owners in two counties will be receiving "Notice of Intent to Enter" letters for the first time. About 500 notices were sent when mailings began in August 1998. The study of alternative routes for the highway, to run between Route 22 and Interstate 79, involves property in Robinson, Cecil and Mt. Pleasant townships and McDonald Borough in Washington County, along with North Fayette and South Fayette townships in Allegheny County. McDonald is new to the list because of refinements in alternatives that are being examined in an effort to avoid or minimize social and environmental impacts, according to the commission. Field work includes locating homes, businesses and community areas such as churches, parks and cemeteries, as well as streams, wetlands, wildlife habitat, historic structures and other features that warrant consideration in determining the best location for a new highway. Receipt of an entry letter does not mean the property will be acquired for the expressway's right of way, or even that entry will be necessary. In most cases where entry is required, a simple walk-through will suffice. Information gathered from the field studies will be used in the development and evaluation of prospective alignments. The results will be summarized in a draft environmental impact statement that is expected to be circulated for public review and comment next winter. The next round of public meetings on the project probably will be held this summer Copyright ©2000 Observer Publishing Co. Last updated Saturday, January 22, 2000