A new 8.4-mile parkway spanning communities in Philadelphia's northern suburbs officially opened Monday afternoon hopefully lessening traffic woes in parts of Montgomery and Buck Counties.
The $200 million Route 202 parkway is expected to significantly ease congestion in eastern Montgomery and central Bucks Counties -- serving as a direct route between Route 63 (Welsh Road) and Route 611 in Montgomery and Doylestown Townships.
The Bucks County Courier Times reports the parkway was born as a compromise in 2005 following a divisive proposal for an expressway to improve traffic conditions.
The new roadway, which includes landscaping, split-rail fences and a 12-foot-wide walking and biking trail, was designated as Pennsylvania's 20th scenic byway, according to PennDOT.
“This designation will help us preserve the scenic views commuters, bicyclists and pedestrians will enjoy when traveling on this new and beautifully landscaped parkway in southeastern Pennsylvania,” PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch said in a press release.
