Blossburg: Borough: Route 15 Ribbon Cutting

We're Blossburg Proud

William B. Wilson Memorial Highway
Officials Open Blossburg's New U.S. Route 15

Click on any photo to view it in a larger size.

Thank you Rick Mason of PennDOT for
sharing the photos with us.

    BLOSSBURG, Nov. 3 -- State Secretary of Transportation Bradley Mallory, state and local officials addressed hundreds of people gathered Friday to celebrate the opening of the latest section of U.S. Route 15 to become a limited access four-lane highway.
    The ribbon cutting ceremony on the Johnson Creek bridge dedicated the new six-mile section from the top of Bloss Mountain to the northern end of Blossburg.

    "We are taking yet another step to make Route 15 what it ought to be and what it should have always been," Mallory said. He also stated that along with improved safety, commercial vehicles will be able to move more efficiently and the area will look more attractive to business.
    In this vein, he announced that the highway will be named the William B. Wilson Memorial Highway. Wilson, a Blossburg native, served as the first U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1913 until 1921.

    It was also noted by Mallory that it took 31 years of local pressure to convince PennDOT to undertake the Route 15 improvement project.
    State Senator Roger Madigan, who is chairman of the Senate transportation committee, warned Blossburg and other communities that they will see economic development and it will be "the good, the bad and the ugly."

    Senator Madigan noted that a four-lane Route 15, which will eventually be re-designated Interstate 99, will connect with Route 17, the future Interstate 86, in Painted Post, N.Y.
    "That day is coming," he said. "There will be more ground breakings and ribbon cuttings, and I can't wait for them."

    This section of highway came at a very high cost, not only in dollars but also in lives. During the construction of this section two workers lost their life. David LaChance, 47, of Shunk was severely injured when a trench caved in on him May 25, 1999. He subsequently died of those injuries. Raymond Reifsnyder, 51, died in October 1999, in a traffic accident. He was delivering materials for the Johnson Creek bridge project.

Blossburg Borough Council President James Bogaczyk presents PennDOT Secretary of Transportation Brad Mallory with the key to the borough.

Blossburg's Mayor John Backman presents the Key to the Borough to Mark Murawski, president of the Route 15 Coalition.

Webmasters note: During our lifetime we travel many highways, some are just roads to get us from point A to point B and some we travel for their beautiful views, this section of highway is one of the most beautiful sections in any state. For a sample of the views click on the links below:

Blossburg: New Route 15 Photo View 1
Blossburg: New Route 15 Photo View 2

William B. Wilson Memorial Highway Officials Open Blossburg's New U.S. Route 15
Click on any photo to view it in a larger size. Thank you Rick Mason of PennDOT for sharing the photos with us.
	BLOSSBURG, Nov. 3 -- State Secretary of Transportation Bradley Mallory, state and local officials addressed hundreds of people gathered Friday to celebrate the opening of the latest section of U.S. Route 15 to become a limited access four-lane highway. The ribbon cutting ceremony on the Johnson Creek bridge dedicated the new six-mile section from the top of Bloss Mountain to the northern end of Blossburg.
"We are taking yet another step to make Route 15 what it ought to be and what it should have always been," Mallory said. He also stated that along with improved safety, commercial vehicles will be able to move more efficiently and the area will look more attractive to business. In this vein, he announced that the highway will be named the William B. Wilson Memorial Highway. Wilson, a Blossburg native, served as the first U.S. Secretary of Labor from 1913 until 1921.
It was also noted by Mallory that it took 31 years of local pressure to convince PennDOT to undertake the Route 15 improvement project. State Senator Roger Madigan, who is chairman of the Senate transportation committee, warned Blossburg and other communities that they will see economic development and it will be "the good, the bad and the ugly."
	Senator Madigan noted that a four-lane Route 15, which will eventually be re-designated Interstate 99, will connect with Route 17, the future Interstate 86, in Painted Post, N.Y. "That day is coming," he said. "There will be more ground breakings and ribbon cuttings, and I can't wait for them."
This section of highway came at a very high cost, not only in dollars but also in lives. During the construction of this section two workers lost their life. David LaChance, 47, of Shunk was severely injured when a trench caved in on him May 25, 1999. He subsequently died of those injuries. Raymond Reifsnyder, 51, died in October 1999, in a traffic accident. He was delivering materials for the Johnson Creek bridge project.
Blossburg Borough Council President James Bogaczyk presents PennDOT Secretary of Transportation Brad Mallory with the key to the borough.	Blossburg's Mayor John Backman presents the Key to the Borough to Mark Murawski, president of the Route 15 Coalition.
Webmasters note: During our lifetime we travel many highways, some are just roads to get us from point A to point B and some we travel for their beautiful views, this section of highway is one of the most beautiful sections in any state. For a sample of the views click on the links below: Blossburg: New Route 15 Photo View 1 Blossburg: New Route 15 Photo View 2