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Several Road Projects Snarl Luzerne County Traffic

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP — A road project on Interstate 81 has led to backups, so drivers trying to get around the traffic by using Business Route 309 find t...
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WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP -- A road project on Interstate 81 has led to backups, so drivers trying to get around the traffic by using Business Route 309 find themselves in even more traffic because of another project.

Crews are now patching divots along northbound Interstate 81 between Mountain Top and Wilkes-Barre.  Driving along the interstate should be smoother by Thursday when the work is scheduled to end, but until then, it's creating major traffic troubles.

"Just seems to be typical Wilkes-Barre. 81 seems to have problems every year with some kind of construction," said Dan Nagle.

Some drivers cannot seem to escape the congestion. One woman tried getting off I-81 and onto Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard to get around it.

"But it wasn't any better once I jumped off because it took me 45 minutes from the exit to the mall," Jenny Church said.

Many of the drivers coming off the exit ramp from Interstate 81 were not counting on being funneled into one lane. It's all because of another road project happening on Route 309 near Coal Street.

"It seems that no matter which way you go, you're held up with traffic," said Joe Kelly. "I know it's almost summer and there's construction, but I wish there was a little better planning."

The work on Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard involves putting in new UGI gas lines.

Officials with PennDOT insist they plan as best they can and have to do their roadwork when the weather allows. Some drivers understand where they're coming from.

"It has to be done! Everything is in bad shape!" said Andrew Kotz.

The patch work on Interstate 81 between Mountain Top and Wilkes-Barre is expected to be finished Thursday.  The road work on Business Route 309 near Coal Street should be completed by the end of the week.

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