Pennsylvania Route 402
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Route 402 is a 29.31 miles (47.2 km) north–south state route in the Pennsylvania
counties of Pike
and Monroe
. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 209 in the Smithfield Township
village of Marshalls Creek. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 6 in Blooming Grove Township
. Route 402 has remained intact for most of its lifetime, with only one minor realignment after being assigned in 1928. Route 402 is also part of an on-hold project called the Marshalls Creek Bypass. The bypass was proposed in 1991 to relieve congestion on Route 402 in the village of Marshalls Creek.
in Smithifield Township. The southern terminus, located in the village of Marshalls Creek
, is highly developed, with buildings surrounding the road for a short distance. The highway leaves downtown Marshalls Creek and enters a more suburban area. Route 402 turns northward, with its former road heading eastward. Pond Creek is the first landmark, passing just north of Marshalls Creek.
Route 402 heads north, passing through forests. The highway is at the point parallelling U.S. Route 209, which is just southeast of the road. White Heron Lake is close to the north, with the Pocono Mountains in the nearby area. Although the surroundings around Route 402 are still rural, nearby there are short roads that connect to local suburbs. The road, currently known as Resica Falls Road, passes through Poplar Bridge, where there are a park and several homes. In his popular 1960s novel "Stranger in a Strange Land
", the late science-fiction author Robert A. Heinlein
placed the fictional estate of character Jubal Harshaw
in the rolling hills somewhere to the east of Route 402 probably between the Marshalls Creek and Resica Falls area.
The Country Club of the Poconos is accessible from Route 402 as it heads northward out of Poplar Bridge. The highway becomes rural again, with trees surrounding the route for a distance. Route 402 crosses the Resica Falls, a waterfall on the Bush Kill. The road becomes rural again, leaving Monroe County for Pike County just after an intersection with Timothy Lake Road.
The highway then passes Porters Lake, where it intersects with Silver Lake Road, a connector route from Route 402 to nearby PA 739
. Silver Lake Road is also Quadrant Route 2004. Just north of Silver Lake Road, Pickerel Lake is accessible to the west. The highway is still rural, with trees continuously passing both sides. North of Pickerel Lake, Route 402 passes Pecks Pond and intersects with a former alignment of itself. The former alignment parallels Route 402 to the west and Pecks Pond to the east. After both roads intersect with 2 local roads, they merge together and Route 402 continues northward.
Route 402 intersects with local roads north of Pecks Pond, heading now to the northwest. As the highway progresses, it enters Blooming Grove Township
. Just after entering the township, Route 402 interchanges with Interstate 84
at Exit 30. Just north of I-84, the highway intersects Blooming Grove Road (Quadrant Route 4004). Continuing on its final stretch of highway, Route 402 heads northward, passing more forests, some homes and businesses as well.
Just north of White Deer Lake, Route 402 heads northward, where it terminates at U.S. Route 6
soon after.
Route 402 originally ran farther south to PA 612 in East Stroudsburg
. This original southern segment headed south of Marshalls Creek, passing Buttermilk Falls and terminating in the village of Minisink Hills. This segment is now an alignment of U.S. Route 209, which once went into East Stroudsburg. The original 209 alignment is now US 209 Business.
, with approval by the Federal Highway Administration coming 10 years later. This intersection was often congested, with local residents asking for a bypass of the highway. The project originally was going to cost $70 million in construction funds. This was true until Pyrite
was found along the area where the bypass was to be constructed. Investigations into resolving problem ensued, with findings currently not released.
Groundbreaking for the bypass began on August 24, 2005. However, the first of three phases into completing the large project was to cost $14.2 million. $15 million was planned for the second phase, with $40 million coming for the final phase. In April 2008, PennDOT put the construction on hold for the reason cited as skyrocketing construction prices. The 3.5 miles (5.6 km) bypass cost price had gone from $68 to over $200 million in funds.
On April 17, 2008, local officials, along with state officials, met with officials of governor Edward Rendell, where a project redesign would be promised. A Monroe County official reportedly admitted that the Marshalls Creek Bypass is the only project on the endangered list, while PennDOT had originally said more were.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
counties of Pike
Pike County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River * Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
and Monroe
Monroe County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 209 in the Smithfield Township
Smithfield Township, Pennsylvania
Smithfield Township is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:* Smithfield Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania* Smithfield Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania* Smithfield Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania- See also :...
village of Marshalls Creek. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 6 in Blooming Grove Township
Blooming Grove Township, Pennsylvania
Blooming Grove Township is a township in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,819 at the 2010 census. Hemlock Farms housing community is located in Blooming Grove township.-Geography:...
. Route 402 has remained intact for most of its lifetime, with only one minor realignment after being assigned in 1928. Route 402 is also part of an on-hold project called the Marshalls Creek Bypass. The bypass was proposed in 1991 to relieve congestion on Route 402 in the village of Marshalls Creek.
Monroe County
Route 402 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 209U.S. Route 209
U.S. Route 209 is a long U.S. highway in the states of Pennsylvania and New York. Although the route is a spur of U.S. Route 9, US 209 never intersects US 9, making the connection via U.S. Route 9W instead. The southern terminus of the route is at Pennsylvania...
in Smithifield Township. The southern terminus, located in the village of Marshalls Creek
Marshalls Creek, Pennsylvania
Marshalls Creek is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States....
, is highly developed, with buildings surrounding the road for a short distance. The highway leaves downtown Marshalls Creek and enters a more suburban area. Route 402 turns northward, with its former road heading eastward. Pond Creek is the first landmark, passing just north of Marshalls Creek.
Stranger in a Strange Land
Stranger in a Strange Land is a 1961 science fiction novel by American author Robert A. Heinlein. It tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human who comes to Earth in early adulthood after being born on the planet Mars and raised by Martians. The novel explores his interaction with—and...
", the late science-fiction author Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
placed the fictional estate of character Jubal Harshaw
Jubal Harshaw
Jubal Harshaw is a fictional character featured in Stranger in a Strange Land, a novel by Robert A. Heinlein. He is described as: "Jubal E. Harshaw, LL.B., M.D., Sc.D., bon vivant, gourmet, sybarite, popular author extraordinary, neo-pessimist philosopher, devout agnostic, professional clown,...
in the rolling hills somewhere to the east of Route 402 probably between the Marshalls Creek and Resica Falls area.
The Country Club of the Poconos is accessible from Route 402 as it heads northward out of Poplar Bridge. The highway becomes rural again, with trees surrounding the route for a distance. Route 402 crosses the Resica Falls, a waterfall on the Bush Kill. The road becomes rural again, leaving Monroe County for Pike County just after an intersection with Timothy Lake Road.
Pike County
The rest of PA 402 is in Pike County. Even after crossing the county line, Route 402 is mainly rural, with small breaks at intersections with local roads. 12 Mile Pond is visible to the east as the highway continues northward through the western parts of Pike County. Just after 12 Mile Pond, Route 402 passes Spruce Run Drive, a circle road that services local homes. The highway passes the Beaver Run Dump at a small highway intersection. Beaver Pond, a small pond in Pike County, is accessible just north of the dump off Beaver Run Road. North of Beaver Pond, Route 402 turns to the northeast, intersecting with Bushkill Falls Road (Pike County Quadrant Route 2003) soon after.The highway then passes Porters Lake, where it intersects with Silver Lake Road, a connector route from Route 402 to nearby PA 739
Pennsylvania Route 739
Pennsylvania Route 739 is a Pennsylvania highway contained entirely within Pike County, Pennsylvania. It was signed in 1967, and runs for almost . Its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 6 in Blooming Grove, running south to U.S. Route 209 in Delaware Township...
. Silver Lake Road is also Quadrant Route 2004. Just north of Silver Lake Road, Pickerel Lake is accessible to the west. The highway is still rural, with trees continuously passing both sides. North of Pickerel Lake, Route 402 passes Pecks Pond and intersects with a former alignment of itself. The former alignment parallels Route 402 to the west and Pecks Pond to the east. After both roads intersect with 2 local roads, they merge together and Route 402 continues northward.
Route 402 intersects with local roads north of Pecks Pond, heading now to the northwest. As the highway progresses, it enters Blooming Grove Township
Blooming Grove Township, Pennsylvania
Blooming Grove Township is a township in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,819 at the 2010 census. Hemlock Farms housing community is located in Blooming Grove township.-Geography:...
. Just after entering the township, Route 402 interchanges with Interstate 84
Interstate 84 (east)
Interstate 84 is an Interstate Highway extending from Dunmore, Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, at an interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike . I-84 has mile-log junction numbering in Pennsylvania; otherwise, exit numbers are roughly sequential...
at Exit 30. Just north of I-84, the highway intersects Blooming Grove Road (Quadrant Route 4004). Continuing on its final stretch of highway, Route 402 heads northward, passing more forests, some homes and businesses as well.
Just north of White Deer Lake, Route 402 heads northward, where it terminates at U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 , also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, a name that honors an American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system, running east-northeast from Bishop, California to Provincetown, Massachusetts. Until 1964, it continued south from Bishop to...
soon after.
Early history
Route 402 was assigned to most of its current routing in 1928, with the exception of a short segment at Pecks Pond, where it originally ran along the shoreline of the pond. The route was realigned later onto its current routing. The road was still under construction from 1931 to 1932, with the road being put together from Marshalls Creek to Snowhill Road. Route 402 was completed and paved in 1932.Route 402 originally ran farther south to PA 612 in East Stroudsburg
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg is the most populous municipality in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Poconos region of the state. Originally known as "Dansbury", East Stroudsburg was renamed for geographic reasons when the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad opened a...
. This original southern segment headed south of Marshalls Creek, passing Buttermilk Falls and terminating in the village of Minisink Hills. This segment is now an alignment of U.S. Route 209, which once went into East Stroudsburg. The original 209 alignment is now US 209 Business.
Marshalls Creek Bypass
In 1991, a bypass of the southern terminus of Route 402 was proposed by Monroe CountyMonroe County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
, with approval by the Federal Highway Administration coming 10 years later. This intersection was often congested, with local residents asking for a bypass of the highway. The project originally was going to cost $70 million in construction funds. This was true until Pyrite
Pyrite
The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, is an iron sulfide with the formula FeS2. This mineral's metallic luster and pale-to-normal, brass-yellow hue have earned it the nickname fool's gold because of its resemblance to gold...
was found along the area where the bypass was to be constructed. Investigations into resolving problem ensued, with findings currently not released.
Groundbreaking for the bypass began on August 24, 2005. However, the first of three phases into completing the large project was to cost $14.2 million. $15 million was planned for the second phase, with $40 million coming for the final phase. In April 2008, PennDOT put the construction on hold for the reason cited as skyrocketing construction prices. The 3.5 miles (5.6 km) bypass cost price had gone from $68 to over $200 million in funds.
On April 17, 2008, local officials, along with state officials, met with officials of governor Edward Rendell, where a project redesign would be promised. A Monroe County official reportedly admitted that the Marshalls Creek Bypass is the only project on the endangered list, while PennDOT had originally said more were.