“I’d be happy to wait on this until we get some more information,” he said.

Councilor George Rabideau (R-Ward 3) said he’s never seen a definitive plan for the highway. He also suggested waiting on the vote.

Councilor Chris Jackson (D-Ward 6) said the city has yet to hear word on the stimulus projects it has proposed to the federal government.

“It’s hard for me to vote for something like this when we can’t get an answer on our projects yet.”

DRIVES TO MALONE

Councilor Timothy Carpenter (D-Ward 1), who has driven to Malone for work since 1986, said the Route 11 corridor from Plattsburgh to Watertown has improved greatly in recent years.

He said Jason Clark, director of economic development and chairman of the Northern Corridor Transportation Group in Massena, would be willing to give the council a presentation on the project if they wanted.

Kasprzak said he would be willing to wait a few weeks while the council studied the idea further.

“This idea has been out there for quite some time, and there is plenty of information on it.”

JOB CREATION

The mayor noted that U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-Brooklyn) and former New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton both supported the rooftop highway.

“Just think of where the North Country would be if we did not have I-87 (Adirondack Northway) or we didn’t get those infrastructure improvements for the Olympics in Lake Placid in 1980,” Kasprzak said.

“This project would create hundreds of jobs and provide safer and quicker transportation to hospitals and all kinds of businesses.”