[EastSideHBG]

West Hanover seeks credit to widen Exit 77

Line of credit sought for Exit 77 project

Saturday, December 10, 2005
BY PHYLLIS ZIMMERMAN
For The Patriot-News

West Hanover Twp. supervisors are looking to move forward with a planned expansion of Exit 77 on Interstate 81.

Exit 77, lined by truck stops, restaurants and motels, directs travelers to state Route 39 in West Hanover Twp., which intersects about 10 miles later with Hersheypark Drive in Derry Twp.

The township is planning to build additional vehicle lanes for the exit because Route 39 is often clogged with heavy automobile and tractor-trailer traffic.

Also, new traffic signals are planned at the exit ramps on Route 39 and the state route's nearby intersection with Fairville Avenue, and signal upgrades are planned for Jonestown Road and Route 39, said Michael Rimer, the township's manager.

"The businesses in the township will benefit from this," Rimer said. "More people will be driving around the area."

On Monday, township supervisors authorized Public Financial Management to submit a request for proposals from local banks for the township to establish a line of credit totaling $1.43 million.

The project's total cost is $8.6 million, but the state is paying much of the cost.

"The township is not necessarily going to have to use all of this line of credit," Rimer said.

Scott Shearer of Public Financial Management said he plans to return in January with proposals from area banks, which would require another board vote for final approval.

In a previously drafted agreement, the township agreed to pay the state Department of Transportation $860,000 -- 10 percent of the project's total estimated cost -- in addition to coordinating and paying for utility and right-of-way land acquisitions.

Under the agreement, the township also paid for the project's preliminary engineering that totaled $512,000.

West Hanover also will pay up-front costs for final engineering but will be reimbursed by PennDOT for that aspect of the project.

Since 2002, the township has collected around $400,000 in contributions from private property owners and developers around the exit. Dauphin County is contributing $300,000. More pledges are expected from other businesses.

The municipality also has placed around $135,000 from its budget into a capital fund for the project.

Over the past several years, West Hanover has seen the opening of several hotels and motels on Route 39 to accommodate interstate travelers: Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn, County Inn and suites, and Ramada Express.

Earlier this year, a new Kokomo's Sports Bar and Grill and several other shops opened on Allentown Boulevard, and a Super 8 Hotel is under construction.