The Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce agrees and cites proof from a 2003 study prepared by The Associated Pennsylvania Constructors about Pennsylvania’s transportation needs. The association’s 450 company members perform 90 percent of the state Department of Transportation’s highway and bridge construction, as well as work with local governments and other transportation facility owners.

Among the study’s highlights include a report on how the completion of the 12-mile Mon-Fayette Expressway in western Pennsylvania attracted 14 companies, $32 million in private investment and 694 jobs to Fayette and Washington counties.

A business perspective

Pat Hess, owner of Colonial Candlecrafters south of Lewisburg along Route 15, sees the value of the bypass and positive effect it would have on traffic congestion. However, she still has several concerns from a business perspective.

“When and if the Thruway becomes a reality, care must be given to the business along Route 15 and the strip that have paid taxes, provided jobs and supported the local communities,” said Hess, adding that 80 percent of her business over the summer is from transient customers. “For the greater good, I understand why the bypass is necessary. Speaking for myself, as a business owner, I certainly don’t want less people at my front door.”

According to Hess, the Thruway won’t guarantee economic prosperity. Bypassing traffic off Route 15 away from Lewisburg and Mifflinburg could be hurtful to those downtown markets, Hess said.

Evidence can be seen in Mansfield, she added.

“Route 15 used to go right through there, and now it’s a ghost town,” Hess said of the effect of the Appalachian Thruway in Tioga County. “There you have a college town that couldn’t survive. All there is now is a Harley-Davidson dealership and Wal-Mart. Who is going to take responsibility if these places become ghost towns?”

Mull is more concerned about the immediate effect of the Thruway if it is ever built, particularly because the dealership has tripled in business since moving from Middleburg to Routes 11-15, undoubtedly because of the intense traffic.

Even the development of the Routes 11-15 business strip has helped the car dealership, especially the recent installation of a traffic signal for Monroe Marketplace’s main entrance.

Vehicles are stopped countless times a day right in front of Mull’s lot filled, with 65 vehicles waiting for the red light to turn green.

“What else is there to do but look over at the cars,” Mull said. “It’s been great, but all of our gain made in the last 12 years will be lost with the Thruway.”

-- E-mail comments to jnorth@dailyitem.com.