The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has opened a 400-plus-space Park-and-Ride Lot on US Route 209 near Marshalls Creek in eastern Monroe County. The lot is located at the intersection of Route 209 and Mt. Nebo Road/Oak Grove Drive, adjacent to the Pocono Bazaar market north of the Village of Marshalls Creek.

PennDOT and local officials on November 23 opened the Park-and-Ride Lot along with a relocated section of Oak Grove Drive at the new, signalized intersection with Mt. Nebo Road. The opening marked the completion of the second of three stages of PennDOT’s Marshalls Creek Traffic Relief Project.

Stage 1 construction ($14.2 million) included improvements to add turn lanes and new signals at several intersections along the existing Route 209 corridor, as well as improvements to the northern half of Oak Grove Drive and several circulatory roads in White Birch Estates. Stage 1 construction was completed in late 2007.

Stage 2 construction began in January 2009. In addition to building the new Park-and-Ride Lot, PennDOT, under the $6.3 million Stage 2 contract:

• Relocated a section of Oak Grove Drive – which included construction of a new bridge carrying the relocated roadway over Pond Creek,
• Constructed a new signalized intersection of realigned Oak Grove and Mt. Nebo Road at Route 209,
• Installed various improvements to the storm water management system along Route 209 north of Marshalls Creek.

The Park-and-Ride Lot, which is illuminated and which will be maintained by PennDOT’s Monroe County Maintenance forces, is expected to help reduce traffic volume on Route 209 by encouraging ride sharing by Pocono area commuters. There is no charge for use of the lot.

PennDOT expects to begin construction on the third and final stage of the traffic relief project in 2010. Stage 3 improvements include construction to relocate Route 209 as a two-lane highway around Marshalls Creek.

For more information, please visit www.marshallscreektrafficrelief.com.