BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

MASSENA — Massena Mayor Tim Ahlfeld is hoping to revive discussions on the rooftop highway, an initiative that aims to improve traffic flow in and out of the North Country.

Ahlfeld noted that with a lot of federal and state initiatives underway, now may be the time to see what funding is available for some iteration of the highway project.
He said there have been efforts to get a proper highway system in the North Country as early as the 1960s, but despite all of the efforts there has been little success.
Ahlfeld said he’s not as worried about the details of exactly where the highway would be, a debate that has raged on for decades, as he is about getting one here.
He noted that when people come to the North Country they like it, but he said getting here isn’t easy and transporting goods in and out of the area can be a challenge that keeps businesses from taking advantage of the area’s other qualities.
He said he has reached out to Sen. Charles Schumer regarding the idea and is hoping to discuss the project with surrounding counties that would also benefit from a highway.
While the plan has had many iterations and varied opinions over the years, the idea essentially focuses on bringing a highway that extends from Jefferson County and continues though St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties.
The idea is to provide a higher-speed connector to the state highway system.
Ahlfeld said he was unsure how successful the effort would be, but will continue to investigate interest in the idea and explore potential options for funding.