When the region’s highway network was built, Norristown was left without a convenient interchange. The combination of poor highway access and new mall development on the outskirts of town resulted in economic decline.
It was difficult and time-consuming to access downtown Norristown and the industrial areas of Plymouth Township from the highway network. The Lafayette Street Project created quick and convenient access to both by shortening the time to only two minutes from the Turnpike. Visitors can now enjoy the many assets the area has to offer, including the Schuylkill riverfront, county government offices, the SEPTA Norristown Transportation Center, the Greyhound / Bieber / Martz intercity bus terminal, and the Schuylkill River and Chester Valley Trails.