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Drivers Should Expect Second Road Split Along I-81 Northbound Soon

PITTSTON TOWNSHIP — Starting in two weeks, drivers can expect a new curve ball in an already construction-heavy section of Interstate 81 in Luzerne County...
luz 81 split

PITTSTON TOWNSHIP -- Starting in two weeks, drivers can expect a new curve ball in an already construction-heavy section of Interstate 81 in Luzerne County.

PennDOT plans to add another road split along I-81 north.

The second split near Exit 175 is about 1,000 feet past the current one, which drivers have been dealing with since October.

"It drives me crazy. You don't know what's going on. They change the patterns!” said Matthew Stalbird of Pittston.

Stalbird tries avoiding the interstate because of the construction. But out-of-towners may not have that advantage.

Matt Ulrich of Boston says the first split is abrupt on the fast-moving highway. A truck in front of him had to slam on his brakes.

“We were going probably 50 or something, and he slowed down to about maybe 25, so it was pretty, you could smell his brakes burning a bit,” he said.

The first split might have been a little confusing to some drivers because if they wanted to take Exit 175 to Pittston, they would have to stay in the right lane. But officials from PennDOT admit the second split just after the exit won't be as complicated, because there is no exit there, all drivers have to do is stay in the lanes they're in. Still, many are not looking forward to it.

“Unbelievable, you know. I'm trying to get places, trying to get to work. I work in Scranton. I never know if I'm going to be late to work,” said one driver.

PennDOT split the northbound lanes into two separate lanes as part of an ongoing bridge project, but drivers have been dealing with the construction for years on the interstate and are ready for it to be over.

“You get to the point where enough is enough, you know? You want it to end already,” said a driver.

That first road split was supposed to be removed this summer. Now, it won't be until the fall. Meanwhile, the second split is expected to go up in two weeks and remain until next year.

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