Dunkirk, NY—Today, Congressman Brian Higgins was in Dunkirk to announce $8.4 million in federal transportation funding dedicated to construction of the Millennium Parkway.  The 4.5-mile project in the Towns of Dunkirk and Sheridan will have a positive economic, environmental and public safety impact on the community.  Chautauqua County Executive Mark Thomas and other local elected officials joined Higgins.
 

            “This funding brings economic, safety, environmental, and congestion relief benefits to the northern part of Chautauqua County,” said Higgins.  “It will promote the growth of existing employers in the area and will attract new investment to the Chadwick Bay Industrial Park.  190 acres of previously underutilized land will become accessible, leading to commercial and industrial development and job creation.  The flow of tractor-trailer truck traffic in the region will drastically improve, and air emission and noise pollution levels will be reduced.  I am pleased to be joined by County Executive Thomas, who understands the real quality of life improvements we will see in the Dunkirk-Sheridan area.  This funding will no doubt lead to further development, job growth and safety for all.”

 

            “With this important funding, Congressman Higgins has helped turn vision into reality,” said County Executive Thomas.  “This direct connection between Rt. 60 and the Chadwick Bay Industrial Park will not only foster economic growth and jobs, it also will make streets in the city of Dunkirk safer by removing truck traffic from residential neighborhoods.”

 

            The Millennium Parkway project involves the construction of a new 4.5-mile highway linking the New York State Thruway, New York State Route 60, and New York Route 5 in the towns of Dunkirk and Sheridan.   The Parkway’s southern terminus will be approximately ľ mile north of the Dunkirk-Fredonia Exit 59 interchange of the New York State Thruway.  The northern terminus will be ˝ mile north of the Chautauqua County Airport and the Chadwick Bay Industrial Park.

 

            The Millennium Parkway will provide a direct route to the Chadwick Bay Industrial Park from the New York State Thruway from both the eastbound and westbound directions.  This will promote the growth of existing employers such as Nestle-Purina Pet Care and GRAFCO PET Packaging Technologies, and the attraction of new investment to the industrial park. 

 

            Higgins requested the $8.4 million in federal funding which was included in the recently passed Congressional transportation reauthorization bill (TEA-LU).