LARKSVILLE -- A road project is starting this week in Luzerne County, meaning travel delays in some areas as crews repave the roads.
This $5.5 million project is more than just fixing the roads. It also includes upgrading and installing 94 handicap ramps.
This PennDOT project will be going on through the summer, and a lot of people we talked to are happy about that.
Crews were busy Monday getting ready to repave Mountain Road in Larksville. This is just one of nearly 11 roads and streets in the county that will be repaved now through the summer.
Joe Gimble, one of Larksville's borough council members who lives on this road, says he's been waiting a while for it to be repaired.
"It has had various patches over the years, and they became eroded. It then became swollen, so consequently they determined that we need a new road."
The nearly three-mile stretch of this road is just one of nearly 20 miles PennDOT plans to repave in this part of Luzerne County. More than $5 million in state money will be used to improve the roads.
People who travel on Slocum Road in Exeter say they have been waiting a long time for this road to get fixed.
"I drive the trucks here and it's terrible. Even my own personal car, we have to ride the shoulder of the road most of the way," said Curtis Welliver fo Exeter.
PennDOT plans to repave more than five miles of Slocum where it eventually meets with Shoemaker Avenue in West Wyoming.
Curtis Welliver works for Wyoming Valley Pellets and is happy the road is getting a permanent fix.
"They just patch it up once a year, put patches in it and it's gone within about six months. It's all potholes."
According to PennDOT, construction will continue on several other roads in Luzerne County now through August including upgrades on handicap ramps.
Here is the list from PennDOT:
- Washington Street (Plymouth) – 2.71 miles
- Main Street (Edwardsville) .2 miles
- Jackson Street (.6 miles)
- Slocum Street/Shoemaker Ave (5.84 miles) West Wyoming area
- Tunkhannock Ave (1.03 miles) possibly West Pittston
- Spruce Street Road (1.53 miles)
- Mount Zion Road (3.69 miles) Kingston Township
- Maple Tree Road (1.58 miles) Dallas Township
- Upper Demunds Road (.39 miles) Dallas Township
- Casey Street (.37 miles) Wilkes-Barre Township
- Mafett Street (1.29 miles) Plains Township
