PennDOT Announces a Condensed, Comprehensive & Consolidated Summer Maintenance Plan for Interstate 81 in Lackawanna County
Motorists should avoid the area from May 1 to May 20 if possible.
During the first three weeks in May, PennDOT will conduct extensive maintenance on Interstate 81 in Lackawanna County. In order to improve travel for motorists during the busy summer travel season between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the department will consolidate numerous projects into a condensed 3-week timeframe in May on this section of highway. While this will allow for much better travel over the summer months, it will create major delays on the interstate during the first three weeks of May, especially if motorists do not avoid the area.
During this condensed timeframe, dozens of workers will be along the road, with crews performing a host of activities each day. Two crews will perform pothole repairs while another two crews do crack sealing. Additional personnel will focus on brush cutting, drainage/ditching work, washing salt from bridge decks, bridge deck repairs and additional preventative maintenance. A single lane of the highway will be shut down for three miles each day during the work.
All work will take place between Exit 178A (Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport – Avoca) and Exit 186 (Dunmore-Drinker Street).
During the first week (May 1-6), work will be completed in the southbound lanes.
During the second two weeks (May 8-20) work will be completed in the northbound lanes.
Motorists are strongly urged to avoid the area during this time and should consider using the I-476 Turnpike/toll between Clarks Summit and Pittston.
Crews will work Monday thru Friday from 5 AM to 3 PM. Saturdays will serve as rain dates or makeup days for issues that may arise during the week.
The department has decided to conduct this work in a condensed, comprehensive & consolidated manner this year in an attempt to ease travel for the motoring public.