Through a combination of County data, community consultation and a civil engineering study, the following observations about road conditions can be made (and these may be obvious to those readers who live in the County).
Route 209 North has major traffic problems, especially at the Marshall's Creek intersection. Route 209 North cannot sufficiently handle the traffic flow with its existing two lanes, especially if tourist activity increased in the vicinity of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. An option for upgrade would be two additional opposing lanes &emdash;increasing its capacity to a four lane road&emdash; in combination with a two lane by-pass at the intersection in Marshall's Creek. Such a revision could accommodate both future residential development and the anticipated increase in regional tourism.
Route 209 South is marginally meeting present traffic needs; however, if development continues to increase in this portion of the county, it will only be a matter of time before this road is stressed.
Route 611 is experiencing heavy congestion due to concentrated development along the three-lane segment between exit 44 and exit 47 of Interstate I-80. Its two opposing lanes of traffic combined with a single turning lane result in impeded traffic flow at peak hours. Upgrading this road to four lanes between these exits would reduce existing traffic congestion, and also provide the carrying capacity needed for the projected development along its length.
'Proposed Road Improvements' shows the locations of the suggested changes.
