RETURN TO GVA ACTIVITIES

 

 

   

 

                                                                                                              July 25, 2001

Congressman Curt Weldon

House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515-3807

 

Re: Route 202 Section 300 Expansion

 

Dear Congressman Weldon,

 

The Great Valley Association has the greatest respect for Mr. Warren and we have met with him on a couple of occasions regarding this expansion. Our interest in this matter is to assure that all concerned, including  PennDOT, are responsive to what the residents want and need. After all we are going to live with the result for many years to come.

 

The Great Valley Association has supported the expansion of Route 202 Section 300 from day one. We have also gone on record, as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in February 1999, wanting sound barriers and an asphalt road for Section 300. These are essential for adequate noise abatement. 

 

The noise from the existing roadway is intolerable and the expansion in which a new lane will be added in each direction will make a bad situation worse unless there is proper protection from noise pollution.

 

Section 400 of this expansion is being paved with concrete. The noise from the part already paved is unacceptable, noise modeling notwithstanding.  It will only worsen when the concrete surface ages. Asphalt is smoother and therefore quieter than concrete. Modern day full depth asphalt mixes are durable, less expensive to install and lower in maintenance cost. In addition a good asphalt road only has to have the top 1" replaced every 15 – 20 years or more and when this is done you have a completely new road. This is not possible with concrete.   

 

In summary:

·        The Great Valley Association supports the expansion.

·        Concrete is more expensive than asphalt therefore costs favor asphalt.

·        Even if there was a marginal cost advantage in favor of concrete we would still favor asphalt.

·        Cost alone should not be the primary determinant.

·        We believe that the quality of life for the residents that live along the Route 202 corridor is of equal if not overriding importance to the need for this expansion and everything reasonable should be done to protect the residents from environmental noise pollution.

·        Asphalt as a roadbed and sound barriers are reasonable.

·        This expansion is 80% federally funded. The Federal Highway Administration looks to Congress for it's funding and should be responsive to reasonable requests, as was the case with Swarthmore's request for asphalt on the Blue Route.

 

We look forward to your support in favor of asphalt and sound barriers for Section 300.

 

 

Yours truly,

 

 

Joseph F. Maxwell

President

Great Valley Association

2310 Pine View Drive

Malvern, PA 19355