Probst, local leaders demand immediate pause on I-80 expansion project threatening wetlands, wildlife, and cultural heritage
Rep. Tarah Probst May 7, 2025 | 3:43 PM
STROUDSBURG, May 7 – In response to PennDOT’s ongoing plans to widen Interstate 80 through parts of Monroe County, state Rep. Tarah Probst today joined local residents and experts to demand a full halt to construction planning in sensitive areas near Bryant Street.
Probst said the proposed expansion threatens a critical vernal pool ecosystem, precontact cultural sites, and dozens of homes.
“The I-80 expansion as currently designed is not sustainable, not community-centered, and not acceptable,” Probst said. “We must take a pause and re-evaluate this project before irreparable harm is done.”
A recent Wetland and Waters Delineation Report confirmed the existence of a primary vernal pool in the construction path — a seasonal wetland that supports crayfish, skunk cabbage, salamanders, and potentially state-tracked species like the Jefferson salamander and Wood Turtle.
The report also highlighted historical erosion from stormwater runoff and possible links between the wetland and McMichael Creek’s floodplain. Additionally, trees older than the town of Stroudsburg itself thrive on the vernal pool’s banks, in part due to the nurturing environment of that land.
“Vernal pools are ecological powerhouses,” said Larry Kopp, Stroudsburg Borough Manager. “They provide breeding grounds for amphibians and filter water naturally. Once a pool like this is filled in or disrupted, it’s gone forever. No mitigation plan can undo that.”
The project area also includes lands with documented precontact archaeological sites carbon dated back 5,000-7,000 years, raising concerns among residents and historians alike about the loss of Indigenous cultural heritage.
Dwayne Reish, a lifelong Bryant Street resident was blunt in his assessment: “They want to punch an even bigger hole through the lungs of this neighborhood. We’ve lived with the noise and pollution of I-80 for decades. This project doesn’t fix anything — it just digs the wound deeper. The vernal pool is sacred ground, not an afterthought. PennDOT is not going to steamroll this community without a fight.”
Probst is calling for:
- A moratorium on all further engineering work in the impacted wetlands and historic zones.
- A third-party full environmental and cultural review, with community oversight.
- Public hearings and full transparency in planning.
- A redesign that centers ecological preservation and neighborhood impact.
“Stroudsburg is not just a pass-through,” Probst said. “It’s a living place with history, beauty, and voices that matter. PennDOT must come back to the table — and this time, listen.”
For more information, contact Probst’s office at (570) 420-2850.