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Workers Brave The Freezing Cold

SCRANTON — The cold weather on Tuesday felt more like January than November and because it is still technically fall, construction and road projects went ...

SCRANTON -- The cold weather on Tuesday felt more like January than November and because it is still technically fall, construction and road projects went on as planned.

A contractor replacing a natural gas line along Meadow Avenue and River Street in south Scranton has a long week of work ahead, made all the more difficult by the freezing cold temperatures.

Theresa Collins of Scranton put on long johns, three shirts, and two pairs of socks when she left for work in the morning. It was more layers than she expected with the first day of winter still a month away.

"You can't really move. You feel like that kid on 'A Christmas Story!'"

Collins will be keeping her arms up, directing traffic while a crew works on a natural gas line on Meadow Avenue all week. When this job was scheduled the workers say they prepared for November weather, but it might feel more like January for at least the next few days.

Because of that, when you pass her by in your warm car, Collins just asks for your sympathy and your attention.

"They think it's easy out here, but it's not. That's the main thing. If they would just pay attention and know what they're doing."

Then, she says, traffic moves along and we can all get back inside a little faster.

We found one driver taking shelter inside his car while filling up his gas tank.

Others took shelter down the street where you can also grab something warm to drink. The folks at Dunkin' Donuts on Moosic Street say they're seeing their hot coffee and hot chocolate sales spike.

"As soon as it started getting colder, you could see the difference. The hot chocolate sales have definitely been more. Today we've had people buying just hot chocolate or hot coffees compared to the normal mix of iced and hot," said Heather Keller.

The people we talked to while they were working outside told us they're looking forward to this time next week when temperatures are expected to be above normal with a high of 60 degrees.

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