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Getting There in a Roundabout Way

PITTSTON TOWNSHIP — PennDOT is unveiling a new way to get to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. It includes one of our area’s first ro...
roundabout

PITTSTON TOWNSHIP -- PennDOT is unveiling a new way to get to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. It includes one of our area's first roundabouts.

The roundabout is located near the airport off Interstate 81. It's supposed to make driving to the airport safer for drivers by slowing down traffic, but it's something folks in the area say they may have to get used to.

It's part of a $42 million airport interchange project.

PennDOT unveiled the nearly finished project at a news conference, showcasing one of our area's first roundabouts located off I-81 near the airport.

The roundabout funnels traffic to a circular traffic pattern.

"It's an innovative move by the transportation department," said project manager Paul Smith.

"It's going to be different at first," said executive director of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport Carl Beardsley.

He says the roundabout will take some getting used, but he believes drivers will notice it will make traffic less congested.

"It seems like there's better flow."

The roundabout is scheduled to open sometime next week, although PennDOT gave us a chance to ride around it. It's something people traveling to and from the airport look forward to riding through, too.

"That'll be good, because that gets jammed out there."

Ray Dipaula used to live in Wilkes-Barre. He now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and says roundabouts improve traffic flow.

"They have to have a lot of relief, I guess."

But some people, like Patty McMahon who lives in Lehman Township, are a little hesitant.

"I'm just not good at them, the roundabouts. We don't have a lot of them here."

The roundabout is only one part of the project. Some communities around the airport, including Avoca, Dupont and Pittston, will benefit, because officials from PennDOT say large trucks will be moved off Route 315 and onto a new access road.

That's good news to Betty St. Martin, who likes to go to Bobby O's in Dupont for lunch.

"Hopefully it will. I would think it would, because it is terrible backup."

The roundabout will be ready for drivers Wednesday morning. PennDOT hopes commuters notice a smoother traffic flow then.

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