During late spring 2004, the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project was one of a number of transportation projects targeted statewide to undergo a reevaluation process by PennDOT. The reevaluation process was implemented to allow the Department to scrutinize each project’s development to ensure right-sized design applications and cost-effective assignments of transportation funding. Accordingly, it was determined that the work underway on the Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project was proceeding in the right direction and that it should continue as planned.

   Since that time, the PennDOT project team has progressed with the detailed engineering activities associated with the preliminary alternative alignments that were discussed at the last CAB meeting held in July 2004. Additional considerations are being discussed relative to potential modifications to the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Donegal and New Stanton to accommodate preliminary alternative alignments.

   It is anticipated that the Laurel Valley CAB will reconvene sometime the summer of 2005, and that this phase of the project, Step 4 of the Transportation Project Development Process, will conclude by year end.