Reynolds announces additional $5.92 million for Route 531 study

September 02, 2005

Congressman Thomas Reynolds (R-26th) held a press conference at the Sweden Town Hall on September 1 to announce that he has secured an additional $5.92 million of federal funding for the engineering/environmental study of the extension of Route 531 to the Town of Sweden.

Reynolds said the extension was important in order to improve safety, particularly in the area where the expressway currently ends on Washington Street in the Town of Ogden. Sweden officials believe that the extension will reduce traffic volume on Route 31 from the Ogden town line all the way through the Town of Sweden, and in turn reduce the number of serious accidents on that stretch of road.

“The extension will also reduce commute time to Rochester,” said Sweden Councilwoman Patricia Connors at the conference, “and make our amenities – the college and local businesses – more accessible to those who live east of Sweden.”

Reynolds said the extension of Route 531 has been a priority of his constituents-from local officials, to business owners to residents. Connors agreed. “It’s something our residents talk about all the time. We’re grateful that Congressman Reynolds has been able to keep this project moving forward.”