X

Advocates of bypass around Canton and Potsdam as first step to interstate highway begin online fundraising campaign

Posted 3/27/15

POTSDAM -- The Northern Corridor Transportation Group has begun a public fundraising campaign to enable the organization to spread its message about the merits of building a bypass of U.S. Route 11 …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Advocates of bypass around Canton and Potsdam as first step to interstate highway begin online fundraising campaign

Posted

POTSDAM -- The Northern Corridor Transportation Group has begun a public fundraising campaign to enable the organization to spread its message about the merits of building a bypass of U.S. Route 11 around Canton and Potsdam.

Northern Corridor Transportation Group is a not-for-profit corporation seeking to bring a four-lane highway across the North Country.

The organization is working with local business to raise funds and has created an online account at gofundme.com.

To make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/I98_CantonPotsdam. The web page will also be linked directly to the Northern Corridor Transportation Group’s Facebook page. Those interested in supporting the effort but do not wish to use the website can mail checks directly to the Northern Corridor Transportation Group at PO Box 578, Norfolk, NY 13667.

Funds that are raised will go toward educational literature, public service announcements, dissemination of general information and provide local business owners and residents in the Canton and Potsdam communities with information about the project. “We have a number of things planned for the purpose of helping the public better understand the merits of this project,” Northern Corridor Transportation Group Chair Tony Arquiett said.

“The construction of the Canton-Potsdam Bypass will not only create hundreds of local construction jobs but it will also make our village streets and rural roadways safer”, said River Road resident in the Town of Potsdam, Mark Bellardini. “I’ve lived in Hewittville my entire life and over the past ten years, I’ve seen my peaceful rural road turn into a near thoroughfare for people trying to escape the congestion in Potsdam when they are going to Massena. People living on the Potsdam-Morley Road and the Judson Street Road face the same daily traffic challenges with people trying to avoid congestion in Canton as they commute to work. People living on these unofficial bypasses need to think about these issues; this bypass can alleviate that strain and we all need to get behind it,” he said.

The organization has been developing the plan since the New York State Department of Transportation announced last month that an meeting to discuss the bypass with local residents would be held on March 25, but that meeting has been postponed. The launch of the campaign was set to coincide with that event.

“We are still moving forward with our efforts as planned,” Arquiett said.