NEW COLUMBIA – A Union County aviator says about his decision to use photographers record the construction of the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway has exceeded his expectations.
“I started to do it innocently for the fun of it,” said Brian Benfer, of the New Columbia area. He now has about 6,000 pictures, dating back to when the ground was cleared three years ago, he said.
He posts his pictures on Brian’s Susquehanna Thruway Project Facebook page that has more than 7,800 “likes.”
“I never thought it would take off like it has,” he added.
It is his plan to keep shooting until the $865 million highway project in Snyder, Union and Northumberland counties is finished in 2027, he said.
He has been focusing on the 4,545–foot-long bridge being built across the West Branch of the Susquehanna River south of Winfield.
Benfer, who is self-employed, takes many of his pictures while flying his powered parachute although he also uses a drone on occasion. He tries to fly at least once a week if wind conditions are favorable, he said.
He has gotten comments on Facebook from all over the world including former area residents now living in Florida, he said.
Spouses of the Trumbull Corp. workers who are building the massive bridge have made it known they appreciate the updates, he said.
He has little personal contact with the workers but they text him and look up when he flies over, he said.
Benfer posted on the Facebook page he started taking pictures “to provide you all with a better view aerial view of the progress” of the CSVT. “Hope you enjoy.”
The CSVT is critical to the region and “we’re glad the community has taken an interest and enjoys seeing photos of the project’s progress,” said Alexis Campbell, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation press secretary.
No one is giving him any money to take the pictures, he said. After the bridge is opened in 2022 he said he might try to sell a photographic history of the construction to recoup some of his expenses.
The northern section of the 12.4-mile thruway between Route 15 south of Winfield and Route 147 near Montandon currently is under construction.
Concrete is being poured on the bridge and base work is underway on the connection to Route 147.
That section is scheduled for completion in 2022, the same year construction is to start on the southern section between the northern end of the Selinsgrove bypass and Route 15 south of Winfield.
When the entire 12.4-mile thruway is completed in 2027 at a cost of $865 million, it will be a Routes 11/15 bypass of Hummels Wharf and Shamokin Dam.
Benfer said he plans through pictures and video to record that construction, also. The former Hummels Wharf resident said he used to hunt in the area where the thruway will go.
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Aviator’s ‘for the fun of it’ picture taking of thruway construction has taken off - PennLive
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