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Scrantonians Happy as Paving Project Begins

SCRANTON — Work has resumed on a PennDOT project to revitalize roads in Lackawanna County. Over the next two weeks, crews will pave part of busy Main Aven...

SCRANTON -- Work has resumed on a PennDOT project to revitalize roads in Lackawanna County.

Over the next two weeks, crews will pave part of busy Main Avenue in Scranton.

Road crews milled part of North Main Avenue on Wednesday.

Through the first week of October they will be paving Main Avenue from the Bull's Head section, through west Scranton to the Taylor line.

Many drivers say they're happy this is getting done before winter, since it was last winter that really damaged the road.

Crews started bright and early on North Main Avenue, soaking up the last bits of construction season on this first day of fall.

"I'm on my way to work, so it's kind of annoying having to get through all this traffic, but in the long run it will be, make a nice smooth ride," said Scranton resident Paula Harris.

It didn't matter the season, as long as Main Avenue was paved before winter.

Main Avenue is one of Scranton's busiest roads, and drivers say, also one of its worst.

"You're swerving in and out of traffic trying to get around them. It's really bad," said Annlatish Jones.

"We've gone through tires like crazy this winter with the potholes all over Scranton, so I'm glad to see they're doing the work to get it fixed," said Harris.

The paving on Main Avenue is part of a much larger project, a $4 million contract to pave this and other busy state roads all over Lackawanna County.

Those other projects started earlier this summer. Work was stalled here because crews had to install handicap-safe curbing in 150 different spots.

Work will go from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jose Varela says he'll have to save extra time for drop off and pick up at his children's school, but he and others agree, it will all be worth it.

"I'm happy because it's good for us, too. Now we'll know our car is safe, we won't have a broken car, and stuff like that," he said.

"I'm really glad that they are fixing the potholes because winter is coming and it's only going to get worse," said Jones.

PennDOT officials say the paving project on Main Avenue is expected to wrap up October 3. Those other projects include Keyser Avenue in Scranton, the Morgan Highway, and Grove Street in Clarks Summit.

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