ALLENTOWN - As part of its ongoing work to resolve congestion  issues in the Marshalls Creek area of Monroe County, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation sought advice from the newly formed  Marshall’s Creek project advisory committee on a proposal for a 418-space park-and-ride lot along US 209 (near the Pocono Bazaar) in Middle Smithfield Township.      

Several area state and local lawmakers and citizens are on the committee.

At its meeting, the committee unanimously endorsed that action. As a result, PennDOT now will proceed to a contract letting and expects work will begin next spring.

In addition, the construction contract will include the completion of the relocated

Oak Grove Drive..  A portion of Oak Grove Drive was constructed as part of Phase I of the original Marshalls Creek Bypass project, and this contract will complete the relocated Oak Grove Drive, including a new signalized intersection at US 209.   

“We appreciate the input from the committee and we will proceed with this work,” District Executive Michael W. Rebert, P.E. said.  “We will continue to evaluate the Marshalls Creek area to determine the best way to address the unmet traffic needs while staying within the current budgetary constraints.”

PennDOT has assembled an advisory work group whose charge is to develop a scalable, affordable solution to address Marshalls Creek traffic congestion.