Expressway hot topic at legislative luncheon

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

“The Road to Prosperity, Economic Development in the Mon Valley” was the theme of The Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual legislative luncheon Friday.

With Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, as the keynote speaker and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission CEO Mark Compton as the guest speaker, local business figures and state and county lawmakers discussed infrastructure projects.

The bulk of the conversation revolved around the future of an infrastructure project that’s been a hot topic in the Valley for upward of three decades — the Mon/Fayette Expressway.

“Today’s an important day. We’re going to talk about a very important topic. What’s happening with the Mon/Fayette Expressway and the next leg of construction,” MYAC President Maury Burgwin said, adding that getting the Expressway finished “is literally the economic issue in my mind” that will lead to “economic development here in the Valley.”

In addition to Brewster and Compton, Friday’s panel of lawmakers and state officials included chief engineer Brad Heigel of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, state Senate Democratic Minority Leader Jay Costa, Reps. Austin Davis, Brandon Markosek, Jessica Benham and Nick Pisciottano; Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and Allegheny County District 9 Councilman Bob Macey, who represents several Mon Valley communities in the McKeesport and West Mifflin areas.

Burgwin said the luncheon, held at Youghiogheny Country Club in Elizabeth Township with Michael Bartley of Bartley Media as the emcee, was the first in-person event the chamber has hosted since the start of the pandemic.

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