A section of Pohopoco Drive near Beltzville State Park was closed to traffic Sunday when the park reached capacity, leaving local drivers angered over having to find another route.

Beltzville State Park was closed by noon Sunday, and frustrated motorists began airing their grievances in the Beltzville State Park Concerned Citizens Facebook group.

“Forty-five minutes to get home from Lehighton,” Brian Gerhard posted. “The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation wouldn’t let me through. We had to find alternative routes.”

Dave Darwin said during his trip home from Lowe’s in Lehighton, Pohopoco Drive traffic was being detoured onto Green Street.

“There are no directions given or signs with instructions,” Darwin posted. “People were turning around or parking in people’s yards. I followed a group of cars that drove several miles then just stopped in the middle of the road to get out and discuss what to do. I don’t have a solution to the problem, but whoever is in charge, what I saw today is not it.”

Contacted Monday morning, DCNR spokesperson Wesley Robinson said Pohopoco Drive closures are triggered when the park reaches capacity.

“The closures remain in place until the bulk of the traffic for the day has cleared,” he said. “When we collapse the road closures the only closure that remains is the front gate to the park. All of the closures take place on Beltzville State Park property and no private property is located inside the area of the closure.”

Asked what local drivers should do when the road is closed, Robinson said, “commuters who are affected by the closures can use Route 209 to access their destination on either side of the closed day use area.”

Last week, DCNR issued a press release stating once the gated day use area reaches capacity, DCNR will close Pohopoco Drive between Pine Run Road and Green Street. Visitors won’t be allowed to walk into the day use area once it is full and any buses parking at Beltzville will need prior written permission from the park manager.