SHAMOKIN DAM – A total of $9 million has been allocated to complete the final design and necessary studies and permits for a portion of the Central Susquehanna Transportation (CSVT) bypass project.

Funding, announced this morning in Shamokin Dam by Gov. Edward Rendell and U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, moves the $525 million project from a hibernation status, enabling final design for the northern end of the project, extending from Route 15 just south of Winfield across the river to Route 147 in Point Township.

The funding will enable the design of a large bridge linking Route 147 and Route 15 at Winfield, complete design on nine other smaller bridges and finish environmental permits and studies.

“It’s a good first step,” Rendell said this morning, noting that these final design steps must be completed before the project could move into the construction phase. Construction funding could become available as soon as September, and if all goes well, construction could begin as early as next year, the governor said.

Carney said he believes the project fits within the nation’s overall transportation improvement plan and pledged to continue working to secure construction funding.

In mid-March, the chamber of commerce board of directors voted to send a letter to Rendell urging him to reactivate the thruway project. The board's letter also urged Rendell to restore sufficient funds to complete the final design of the northern section of the project, the utilities relocation and the rights-of-way.

The proposed $418 million Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway would bypass and the "Golden Strip" on Routes 11-15 north of Selinsgrove and connect the existing Selinsgrove bypass with Route 147 north of Northumberland via a bridge over the Susquehanna River between Winfield and Point Township. That connection also would eliminate heavy traffic along Routes 147 and Route 11 in Northumberland.

The project has been on the drawing board for three decades, and actively pursued for the past 10 years.