NEW STANTON, Pa. — Business owners in New Stanton voiced their concern Tuesday about a proposal to re-route Interstate 70 exit ramps around New Stanton.
Hundreds of owners said the plan to have the entrance and exit ramps bypass the stores and restaurants will drive customers away from the businesses.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials said the plan is made for public safety because the current bridge that carries the road is old and there are a lot of trucks that use it.
“We’re trying to minimize the impact on local businesses plus also set the stage for future growth and expansion,” PennDOT Director Joe Szczur said.
One of the many vocal business owners to speak at a meeting Tuesday was the owner of TJ’s Sports Bar, Stella Morgan. Morgan said she’s owned the bar for 40 years and fears with the new proposal she will lose a lot of business, possibly enough to go under.
“I’m an independent owner and I’m not a chain so I can’t just pick up and move. They’ll just put me out of business,” Morgan said. “It will not only put me out of business, but it’ll put a lot of people out of work. We have a payroll here of 32 people.”
PennDOT officials said a construction state date could be announced in the summer of 2015.
WPXI
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