Back to list March 22, 2018 Public Comments on I-81 Interchange Study Sought at April 19 Open House CUMBERLAND VALLEY, PA (March 21, 2018) – The Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) is holding an open house to receive comment on a series of traffic improvement alternatives being considered for the Exit 48 and 49 interchanges of Interstate 81 in South Middleton Township. The public is invited to attend the event, which will be held April 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center, 950 Soldiers Drive (just off Army Heritage Drive), Carlisle, PA. Doors open at 6:30pm. The open house will include a presentation of several project alternatives being considered for the interchanges and provide opportunity for residents to interact with the project team and area officials. “We commissioned the study to re-examine the two half interchanges that connect with Trindle Road and York Road,” said Jonathan Bowser, CEO of CAEDC, the area’s economic development agency. The interchanges’ current design is viewed by many to be a limiting factor in the area’s growth potential, and the area’s traffic patterns around the interchanges can sometimes be confusing to visitors. CAEDC is looking to advance a set of alternatives to be considered in preliminary engineering and eventual construction. “Our intent through the study is to identify a preferred alternative that can be designed and constructed,” said Bowser. “This study process will help us eliminate alternatives from future consideration and move forward with the ones that have the most potential for success. Learning more regarding public preferences for the area also figures into our analysis.” A project advisory committee has been meeting over the past year, and has included representation from PennDOT, the Army Heritage Center Foundation, the Cumberland County Planning Commission, as well as area municipalities, including Carlisle Borough, Middlesex Township, North Middleton Township, and South Middleton Township. “This is another opportunity for area residents to tell us what is important to them as we grow as a region,” added Bowser. “It is vitally important that every voice is heard so that we can work to create policies and projects that provide what the future residents want.” About CAEDC CAEDC is Cumberland County’s authorized agency charged with leveraging and promoting Cumberland Valley’s economic development and tourism assets to drive growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life. Offices are located at 53 W. South Street, Carlisle PA. For more information, visit www.cumberlandbusiness.com and www.visitcumberlandvalley.com.
