NATRONA HEIGHTS, March 19 – State Senator Jim Ferlo (D-Pittsburgh) today announced that he has appealed to PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler for a moratorium on construction of a third lane to serve Pittsburgh Mills shopping center, while plans for the section of Route 28 where rockslides have caused havoc remain unresolved.

“I have asked Secretary Biehler to address an immediate concern for residents in the region. It is a matter of priorities,” Ferlo said. “Public safety must trump shopping convenience.”

The letter, sent last week, detailed Senator Ferlo’s concerns. It also asked for PennDOT staff to attend a 7 p.m. public meeting May 10th at Highlands High School in Natrona Heights.  The meeting will be a forum to discuss planning and preparation for remediation of the steep hillside condition that has been the culprit in several rockslides along Route 28.

“I have been very pleased with the level of cooperation I have received from PennDOT,” said Senator Ferlo, “Understandably, their staff and engineers are limited in what they can do at any one time.  Until we have a strategy for addressing the immediate threat to public safety on Route 28, we need a moratorium on the lane addition between Harmar and the Pittsburgh Mills.”

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For a copy of the letter sent to Secretary Biehler, County Executive Onorato, Governor Rendell, and PennDOT District Executive Cessna, please use the following URL: 

http://www.senatorferlo.com/Press/2007/03-14-07Biehler.pdf

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