City Council Hears Arguments Over Billboards Near I-95
By Mike Dunn
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - PennDOT's ongoing expansion of portions of I-95 prompted a City Council battle over billboards along that highway.
PennDOT's I-95 widening project means the deathknell for six billboards along the highway in the city's Tacony section. Two of the billboards will be permanently removed, but a council committee reviewed a bill that would allow four of the billboards to be relocated.
The measure was sponsored by the councilman representing that district, Bobby Henon.
But the relocation prompted outrage from members of the anti-blight group "Scenic Philadelphia."
Mary Tracey said the new locations are too close to homes.
"The particular bill allows the placement of billboards right next to somebody's house," Tracey explained.
But the attorney for the billboard companies, Alan Kessler, said the new locations for the four billboards will not be any closer to homes.
"The distance between residential (and the billboards) is either greater or at the very least the same as what existed now."
The committee agreed and approved the measure. A full council vote is expected next week.
