MIDDLE SMITHFIELD TWP  - The new Marshall’s Creek Park-and-Ride-Lot was officially opened Monday afternoon. The $6.3 million project, along with the relocation of Oak Grove Drive, came in close to the projected cost and time according to Alfred Picca from PennDot.

With the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, the Park & Ride, with 400+ spaces, is open for business

State Senator Lisa Baker was on hand to congratulate Leward Construction of Honesdale and PennDot for the completion of the project.

“We look forward to the community embracing and utilizing this project,” Baker said.

State Senator Lisa Boscola thanked everyone for their work on the project and getting it completed on time.

“We are now looking forward to Phase 3 of the project also completed on time”, said Boscola.  “We don’t want the project to be put on hold.”

The 400-plus space parking lot located on the west side of US Route 209 adjacent to the Pocono Bazaar.  PennDOT built the lot to encourage ride sharing by Pocono area commuters in an effort to ease congestion on the busy Route 209.

Phase Three of the plan is to go to bid next spring.  That’s the actual bypass that will allow many commuters to avoid the notorious Marshalls Creek intersection.  Because of cost, that part of the plan has been significantly scaled down from a full four-lane bypass that would have avoided most of the congested stretch of Route 209, on either side of the intersection, to a shorter  two-lane road that avoids the most congested area around the traffic light.

Phase Three should be finished by late 2012.