The Lehighton Railroad Street, Route 209 highway project, which had been merely a dream for more than 20 years, became a reality yesterday with the formal dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony before an estimated 200 people.

Mrs. Victoria Swartz, widow of Sgt. Stanley Hoffman, who was killed in Italy during World War II and for whom the highway is being named, cut the ribbon held across Maiden Lane by Lehighton police officers Paul Szoke and Kris Kunkle.

The $1.2 million project has been open to traffic for about two weeks. The name “Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard” was chosen during a lottery, which consisted of the names of military personnel from all wars who were killed in action, during a project conducted by the Lehighton Veterans Organization.