In the postwar era between 1950 and 1960, the population of Bucks County more than doubled. While lower Bucks experienced the largest growth, Doylestown also saw a steady increase from approximately 5000 to nearly 9000 residents between 1950 and 1980; and more than 2000 new homes were constructed in outlying developments. In the 1960s the 19th-century courthouse was demolished to make room for an expanded county courthouse and administration building. With the population growth and increased business at the county seat of government, the local roads in and out of Doylestown became overloaded.
The Intelligencer reported in November 1964 that plans were being made for a four-lane bypass and interchange connecting routes 202 and 611. The recommended Route 611 bypass (north/south) would cost $7.9 million for 4.6 miles and would demolish 20 residential buildings and five businesses.
The Route 202 bypass (east/west) would cost $3.8 million for 2.7 miles and would demolish five homes and three commercial establishments. Construction of the combined Route 611 and Route 202 bypasses finally began in the early 1970s.
The expressway and interchange shown here in the foreground were completed in July 1976. It was another 36 years before the interchange in the background was finally connected to the Route 202 Parkway, a $200 million roadway between Doylestown Township and Upper Gwynedd Township in Montgomery County.
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