Press Releases

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) today announced that work to reopen Route 611 will begin Wednesday after the National Park Service approved the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) special use permit application this week.  

PennDOT officials said they expect it will take roughly eight to ten weeks to complete the project and get traffic flowing.

The approved plans include the installation of a temporary, free-standing rockfall barrier. This compromise, both agencies agree, will allow two-way traffic to flow while they continue working behind-the-scenes on a more permanent solution.

PennDOT’s contractor plans to begin moving barrier and other safety equipment into the area Wednesday. PennDOT’s scope of work includes roadway grading and realignment and the installation of free-standing metal posts, concrete barriers and protective chain-link fencing.

Next week, PennDOT plans to install worker protection fencing,  perform preliminary work to install the concrete barrier, and begin the necessary excavation work. The week of August 26, PennDOT plans to continue excavating and perform other work to install the concrete barrier.

PennDOT officials said they will provide regular updates as things progress.

“This is what happens when we come together at all levels of government and I’m proud of what we accomplished as a team,” Cartwright said.

“I want to thank State Senator Rosemary Brown and State Representative Tarah Probst and all the offices who joined the cause to get the necessary repairs expedited and to get Route 611 back up and running. Today’s announcement is proof that locking arms delivers real results for the people we serve.”

Route 611 in the Delaware Water Gap area has remained closed after heavy rains led to a rockslide along Mount Minsi in December of  2022. When re-opening the road hit an impasse due to statuary limitations faced by NPS and PennDOT, Cartwright convened the multi-level meetings between the agencies and elected officials in the affected region.

“Our intention was to hold an ongoing, open discussion on how we could mitigate the challenges the National Park Service and PennDOT faced regarding the reopening of Route 611. I am very pleased we were able to devise a cooperative strategy between both agencies that will provide much-needed relief,” Cartwright said.

Elected officials and their staff members who participated in the meetings lead by Cartwright include U.S. Senator Robert Casey; U.S. Senator John Fetterman; U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-07); Pennsylvania State Senator Lisa Boscola (18); Pennsylvania State Senator Rosemary M. Brown (40); Pennsylvania State Representative Ann Flood (138); Pennsylvania State Representative Tarah Probst (189); Monroe County Commissioner President John Christy; Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure Mayor Larry Freshcorn, Delaware Water Gap Borough; Mayor Heather Fischer, Portland Borough; Supervisor Ed Cramer, Stroud Township; and Tara Mezzanotte, Upper Mount Bethel and Smithfield Townships PennDOT liaison