The redevelopment of the former Bethlehem Steel plant site, in Lackawanna, took a big step forward Monday.
A new, 6,500-foot long section of the Shoreline Trail officially opened along Route 5. And work is also getting underway on extending Dona Street onto the old steel plant property.
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says the improvements are just a small part of the overall vision for the site.
"You see the trucks going in there right now. This is an active site. But you're going to see a lot more in the future. I guarantee it. Once we get Dona Street opened, I know you're going to see economic development in this site because we're talking to developers. And as soon as we open it up for productive use they will come. Trust me," Poloncarz said.
The Dona Street extension will be the first public road on the former steel plant property. Opening the site up for new development, Poloncarz says, was only made possible because the County invested more than $5 million removing a rail line along Route 5.