There will be a single lane closure on Interstate 81 North and South at Exit 190 (Main Avenue) from tonight at 6 p.m. to Thursday at 6 a.m. and from Thursday at 6 p.m. to Friday at 6 a.m. This is in preparation for a traffic switch in this area and the next phase of work.
As part of the next phase in this project, the ramp from Main Avenue to I-81 North will be closed until spring of 2014. This closure will take place as soon as possible (perhaps tonight), but is weather dependent.
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.