PENNDOT RELEASE – Dec. 4, 2013 (UPDATED 12/5/13 at 1:35PM)
Main Avenue on-ramp to I-81 North IS NOW CLOSED until spring of 2014.
Normally, PennDOT would avoid closing this area during the Christmas shopping season; however, this traffic switch is weather dependent, due to the painting of the lines and repaving of the ramp. If the work is not done prior to the freezing temperatures of the winter season, the entire project will be placed on hold until spring. Essentially, a three week delay on this end, causes a three month delay on the completion date.
This work is part of a two-year, $30 million project that will take place between Exit 188 (Dunmore/Throop) and Exit 194 (Clarks Summit) and will consist of the following:
Rehabilitation of a five-span steel bridge over the Lackawanna River;
- Rehabilitation of a single-span steel bridge over Main Avenue;
- Paving, drainage, guiderail and other safety improvements from Dunmore to Clarks Summit; and
- Removing a portion of the rock slope to increase its distance from the highway just north of Exit 191B (Scranton Expressway).
The work is slated to finish in the fall of 2014.