Section 3. Sullivan Bridge.
(a) Findings and declarations.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) In 1779, General George Washington ordered General John Sullivan to take approximately 30% of the Continental Army into Upstate New York. The purpose was to quash the aligned British and Six Nations of the Iroquois, who were invading Wilkes-Barre, killing hundreds of military and civilians. The ultimate goal of the British was to gain control of the Susquehanna River from Upstate New York to Baltimore, splitting the colonies to end the rebellion.
(2) As the Army gathered in Easton, there was no road over the Pocono Mountains to accommodate thousands of troops, horses, wagons, cannons and supplies. Two regiments of 500 military road builders accomplished the task in just six weeks, from Tannersville to Wilkes-Barre. It was a desolate area of forests and swamps, requiring a Herculean effort with just hand tools. The worst section, known as the Great Swamp, was located in what is now Tobyhanna Township. The only bridge the military road builders needed to construct for the new road was over the Tobyhanna Creek. It was immediately named Sullivan Bridge by the construction army. Through the years, the bridge naming was forgotten and should rightfully be restored.
(3) Sullivan's Expedition was a success, remarkably with fewer than 50 fatalities. It stopped the British in their tracks, contributing significantly to the birth of our nation. Equally impressive is that the new road, Sullivan's Trail over the Pocono Mountain, opened the region to settlement and development by connecting northeastern Pennsylvania and Upstate New York to the Philadelphia area and its port.
(4) Today, Sullivan Bridge continues to significantly serve the region. State Route 940 provides important access to western Monroe County and points beyond. It serves as the major alternative to Interstate 80 in cases of emergencies on the heavily traveled interstate highway. It is at the center of recreational tourism for the Poconos, allowing thousands to enjoy the streams, lakes, forests and all that abounds in the area.
(5) The bridge, named for General John Sullivan, represents the northeastern Pennsylvania region's vital role in preserving over time our nation's independence.
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on that portion of State Route 940, over Tobyhanna Creek (Pocono Lake) in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, is hereby designated the Sullivan Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs to indicate the designation under subsection (b).