After being closed for over a year and a half due to a mudslide in 2022, Route 611 near the Delaware Water Gap in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, is set to reopen. Work on the road is scheduled to begin today, with crews installing temporary barriers until a permanent solution can be agreed upon. The project is expected to take between eight to ten weeks to complete, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
The closure of Route 611 has been a contentious issue, with disagreements between state, federal, and local tribal governments over how to repair the road and prevent further rockfalls. The National Park Service approved a special use permit for PennDOT this week, allowing work to commence. U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright’s office confirmed the start of the work.
The reopening of Route 611 is a significant milestone for the local community. The road has been closed since a rockslide in December 2022, causing inconvenience and frustration for residents and business owners. The news of the project finally getting the green light was announced over the weekend in a social media post by Delaware Water Gap Mayor Larry Freshcorn.