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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. John Siptroth |
  
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Aug. 18, 2008
New developments mean construction will resume on Marshalls Creek Bypass
By state Rep. John Siptroth
I am happy to report that the state Department of Transportation has responded positively to my call to resume construction on parts of the Marshalls Creek Bypass project. The construction was previously put on hold due to funding issues.
I have received a commitment from PennDOT executives to complete the construction already begun around Oak Grove Drive and to allow the construction of the proposed park-and-ride area to proceed in advance of the approval of the bypass redesign.
The park and ride, planned as part of Phase 2 of the Marshalls Creek Bypass project, will be located at the site of the Poconos Bazaar on state Route 209 and will have space for 418 cars.
I know that transportation, particularly with regards to congestion and traffic issues, is one of the foremost concerns facing our area, and the planned bypass redesign and park and ride will help to ease much of that headache for my constituents.
I have repeatedly stressed to PennDOT the urgent need of constructing this park and ride to assist commuters in Lehman and Middle Smithfield townships and reduce traffic through Shawnee-on-Delaware and Smithfield Township.
PennDOT executives agreed to present three construction proposals to the Marshalls Creek Advisory Group in two months so that a decision on the design can be approved and final engineering can proceed.
My objective is to get approval of a revised project plan this fall and secure funding from a number of sources to ensure that construction on the new design can begin without further delay.
While I know that transportation funding issues will probably continue to be a challenge for the project, I am confident that agreements I have helped to establish will be sufficient for PennDOT to complete the project. I will continue to keep an open line of contact with PennDOT officials regarding this matter.
In the meantime, I am pleased that the park-and-ride portion of the project will now proceed and I remain determined to keep the entire redesign of the Marshalls Creek Bypass project moving forward.
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