BUSHKILL - PennDOT district and county representatives joined legislators and local officials on Thursday to mark the groundbreaking of the next phase of the Route 2001 improvement project. The event took place in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area at the intersection of Routes 209 and 2001 in Bushkill, Pike County.

George Roberts, PennDOT 4-0 district executive, welcomed attendees saying, “We are driven by a mutual commitment to the quality of life and future development of Pike County.”

Participants included State Senator Lisa Baker and Rep. John Siptroth, Superintendent John Donahue from the National Park Service; Lehman Township Supervisors Richard Vollmer and John Sivick; Delaware Township supervisor Ted Purcell and Pike County Commissioners Richard Caridi, Harry Forbes and Karl Wagner.

The purpose of the Route 2001 improvement project is to improve the overall safety of the roadway while maintaining the rural setting and minimizing the impact to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, wetlands and private properties. The project consists of three sections and spans over 15 miles of roadway in Lehman and Delaware townships. Work encompasses replacement of all six major structures, nine major roadway vertical and horizontal realignments, drainage improvements, plus signing upgrades and pavement markings.

Section 401 of the Route 2001 improvement project stretches from the intersection of Route 209 in Bushkill to just north of Little Egypt Road, Lehman Township. Work here will last through Fall 2011. It begins this month with wetland mitigation off Route 209 to expand the existing Delaware River Floodplain Wetlands to five acres.

The two-year project on Section 402, just north of Little Egypt Road to Rockledge Road, is expected to begin in 2012.

Section 405 extends from Rockledge Road and to Route 739 and then to Route 209. It will begin in 2015 and last approximately two years.