Last week, crews completed the final paving of Interstate 81 North near the Pittston Exit. This was the last major disruption to traffic as a result of the replacement of four interstate bridges near Exit 175 (Dupont/Pittston). But this was also one of the most significant steps in a decade of bridge replacements on I-81 in northern Luzerne and southern Lackawanna Counties. In each case, an old 2-lane bridge was replaced with a new 3-lane bridge. Replacing a 2-lane bridge with a 3-lane bridge not only allows future maintenance to be performed without taking the interstate down to a single lane, but it is also a necessary prerequisite to eventually widening Interstate 81, should the funds become available. In the past 10 years, the following 18 major bridges have been replaced:
I-81 North, between Exit 182 (Davis Street/Montage Mountain Road) and Exit 184 (River Street) bridge at St. Mary Cemetery over Railroad/Stafford replaced 2009 to 2012
I-81 South, between Exit 184 (Moosic Street) and Exit182 (Davis Street/Montage Mountain Road) bridge at St. Mary Cemetery over Railroad/Stafford replaced 2009 to 2012
I-81 North, at Exit 178 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport, Avoca) – bridge over SR 315 replaced 2011 to 2013 as part of the Avoca Airport Project
I-81 South, at Exit 178 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport, Avoca) – bridge over SR 315 replaced 2011 to 2013 as part of the Avoca Airport Project
I-81 North, at Exit 178 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport, Avoca) – bridge over Plane Street replaced 2011 to 2013 as part of the Avoca Airport Project
I-81 South, at Exit 178 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport, Avoca) – bridge over Plane Street replaced 2011 to 2013 as part of the Avoca Airport Project
I-81 North, between Exit 170 (Bear Creek) and Exit 175 (Pittston) – Pittston Township bridge over SR 315; replaced 2014 to 2017
I-81 South, between Exit 175 (Pittston) and Exit 170 (Bear Creek) – Pittston Township bridge over SR 315; replaced 2014 to 2017
I-81 North, between Exit 170 (Bear Creek) and Exit 175 (Pittston) – Dupont Borough bridge over SR 315; replaced 2014 to 2017
I-81 South, between Exit 175 (Pittston) and Exit 170 (Bear Creek) – Pittston Township bridge over SR 315; replaced 2014 to 2017
I-81 North, between Exit 170 (Bear Creek) and Exit 175 (Pittston) – Plains/Jenkins Township bridge over Jumper Road, replaced 2013 to 2016
I-81 South, between Exit 175 (Pittston) and Exit 170 (Bear Creek) – Plains/Jenkins Township bridge over Jumper Road, replaced 2013 to 2016
I-81 North, between Exit 170 (Bear Creek) and Exit 175 (Pittston) – Plains/Jenkins Township bridge over Sunset Road, replaced 2013 to 2016
I-81 South, between Exit 175 (Pittston) and Exit 170 (Bear Creek) – Plains/Jenkins Township bridge over Sunset Road, replaced 2013 to 2016
I-81 North, between Exit 170 (Bear Creek) and Exit 175 (Pittston) – Plains/Jenkins Township bridge over Westminster Road, replaced 2013 to 2016
I-81 South, between Exit 175 (Pittston) and Exit 170 (Bear Creek) – Plains/Jenkins Township bridge over Westminster Road, replaced 2013 to 2016
I-81 North, between Exit 170 (Bear Creek) and Exit 175 (Pittston) – Plains/Jenkins Township bridge over Old Boston Road, replaced 2013 to 2016
I-81 South, between Exit 175 (Pittston) and Exit 170 (Bear Creek) – Plains/Jenkins Township bridge over Old Boston Road, replaced 2013 to 2016
As the department looks toward the possibility of eventually widening Interstate 81 to three lanes, each two lane bridge must be replaced with a bridge that is at least 54 feet wide. There are currently 69 bridges on Interstate 81 between Clarks Summit and Nanticoke. With the completion of this work on Saturday, 37 of those 69 bridges will have a width of at least 54 feet.