The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation displayed plans and took comments for the Bartonsville phase of the Interstate 80 reconstruction during an open house on Tuesday evening at Northampton Community College’s Pocono campus in Tannersville.

The tentative improvements will include widening the interstate to three lanes each way between Bartonsville and Tannersville, reconfiguring on/off ramps at the Routes 33 and 611 (Exit 302) interchange, adding traffic signals, and upgrading the exit/entrance ramps at the Route 715 junction.

About five miles of I-80 in Hamilton, Pocono, and Stroud townships will be impacted.

Work on the $400 million project won’t start until late in 2030 and is expected to take four years, said Timothy Benner, PE, senior vice president with CDR Maguire Engineering in Allentown, the consultant for the design phase.

The changes along section 26M are supposed to help alleviate traffic congestion and increase safety. The busy corridor includes hospitals, restaurants, shops, box stores, car dealers and supermarkets.

“This comes on the heels of the other phases,” said Benner, referring to the work that is already being done on portions of I-80 east of Bartonsville.

About 45 people attended the event, including residents, elected officials, environmental representatives, and local businesspeople. Pocono Hall was filled with large design renderings on easels and some tables with comment forms and sign-in sheets. There was time to ask questions and get more information.

Public input will be taken until Nov. 13. Adjustments to the plans could be made, said Imtiaz Nathaniel, a senior project manager for PennDOT in Allentown. “It depends on what’s brought up,” he said, explaining that they try to accommodate concerns.

The plans can be viewed virtually and a comment form is available online at the PennDOT District 5 website: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/penndot/projects-near-you/district-5-projects/80-bartonsville.

“It will be a nice improvement and good for the area,” said David Parker, Monroe County commissioner vice chairman.

He noted that it’s important that “any affected landowners are treated fairly by the commonwealth.” Parker added, “It’s also an opportunity for municipalities to work together with PennDOT to create connections between open space and trails.”

Two lanes will remain open on I-80 during construction, with the inner grassy median used for the new additional lanes. “We will be pushing traffic to the outside to build on the inside,” explained Pete Hatola, a traffic engineer with CDR Maguire Engineering.

Environmental, historical and archaeological concerns are being taken into account. For example, a wildlife crossing via an underpass at Reeders Run is being planned. The impact on wetlands will be mitigated as much as possible.

“Safety is the number one priority,” said Tobey Field, structural engineer at CDR Maguire Engineering. Improving traffic flow, extending ramps, and modernizing the infrastructure will help accomplish this.

“This is the logical progression,” Monroe County Commissioner Chair John Christy said, mentioning how the Safe 80 Task Force recommended changes 25 years ago.

“What happens in Bartonsville impacts what happens down south,” said Stroud Township chairwoman and secretary Jennifer Shukaitis, who attended the open house along with fellow supervisor Susan Lyons.

“Everything is connected,” she said, comparing the different construction phases to pieces of a puzzle.

Route 611 will also be impacted in the various stages. Two changes will involve closing the short entrance ramp to I-80 West just past the Stroud Mall and the Exit 303 ramp on I-80 East at North Ninth Street. New on/off ramps will be constructed near Panera Bread.