Another look at the "Rooftop Highway" proposal

In the North County, there has been a plan to build a four-lane highway (would be named Interstate-98 or I-98 or nicknamed the “Rooftop Highway”) that would connect I-81 in Watertown to I-87 in Champlain for many years.

“The proposed Route 98 could reduce travel times and speed up commerce. Let’s see if we can make it a reality. We’ve been talking about it for years. Let’s get DOT to undertake a study and see if we can make this project happen” (said by Governor Cuomo during 2014 State of State Address). Governor Cuomo has put aside $2.5 million to “undertake a study”.

This study is not the first study to focus on the proposed Rooftop highway. Two studies took place in 2002 and 2006 and both studies resulted in the conclusion that Rooftop highway “didn’t merit the investment”(Matt).

Joan McDonald, the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation (DOT) doesn’t completely rule out the idea but she believes that “DOT “probably” wouldn’t end up building the highway”, due the results from pass studies. Link to video of interview with Joan McDonald http://nynow.org/post/dot-commissioner-says-i-98-rooftop-highway-unlikely .

Currently, Route 11 runs fairly close to the proposed Rooftop highway would be constructed. Maybe this is why the Rooftop Highway hasn’t made it far pass the proposal stage because there as been many proposal to get this highway built since the 1950s. Also, financial and environmentally issues come into play. The cost of constructing the Rooftop highway (172 mile interstate) is estimated at $6 billion and improvements to Route 11 are at $320 million (Project Discussion Overview).

“The Northern Corridor Transportation Group is the primary advocacy organization working to develop transportation alternatives in the North Country that will help spur economic growth” (NCNOW News), which supports the Rooftop highway proposal.

This morning, the Northern Corridor Transportation Group named Tony Arguiette as Chair. Former Chairman Wade Davis believes that Arguiette experience in advocating for employment and job creation needs in the North Country” and believes that “his leadership will help take the organization to the next level and I fully support him in his new role” (NCNOW News). 

With the funding for a new study to take place, it will be interesting to see the results and if the Rooftop highway will become a reality. Also, Arguiette might be a person to watch and see if he will prove himself as Chairman of the Northern Corridor Transportation Group.

Sources:

The Associated Press. Syracuse.com. “Cuomo wants NY to look again at building Interstate 98 from Watertown to Champlain”. Received from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/01/cuomo_wants_ny_to_look_again_at_building_interstate_highway_from_watertown_to_ch.html

NCNOW News. I-98 advocacy group names new chair in effort to bring highway to St. Lawrence County”. Received from http://northcountrynow.com/news/i-98-advocacy-group-names-new-chair-effort-bring-highway-st-lawrence-county-0138667

Picture is from The Northern Tier Expressway or The Rooftop Highway. Received from http://www.upstatenyroads.com/i98.shtml

Project Discussion Overview (February 25, 2014). Received from

http://nysdrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/DRC_WhitePaper_I98_022514.pdf

Ryan, Matt. New York Now.“DOT Commissioner says I-98 “rooftop highway” is unlikely”. Received from http://nynow.org/post/dot-commissioner-says-i-98-rooftop-highway-unlikely