HONESDALE -- Folks in one part of Wayne County are looking forward to a sign change that will help drivers getting to Honesdale from the interstate.
PennDOT has confirmed that the overhead signs on Interstate 81 for the Casey Highway (Route 6) in Lackawanna County, will now read both Carbondale and Honesdale.
The new signs along Interstate 81 won't go up right away, but the idea behind getting Honesdale on those signs is one that came from a businessman in that community. He and local leaders in Wayne County hope the signs will help guide more traffic into Honesdale.
Over the last several years, whenever Wayne County businessman Paul Ludick drove that section of Interstate 81, he wondered why Carbondale was on the signs and Honesdale wasn't. He thought getting the borough's name added to the interstate signs would direct more traffic into Honesdale.
"I thought it would be great because I noticed all the other signs had two towns. Then with the Carbondale sign, it only had one and I thought maybe there would be room for Honesdale," Ludick said.
Ludick recently received word that his idea was heading in the right direction.
PennDOT officials confirmed new and larger signs will be put up on the interstate, directing drivers to both Carbondale and Honesdale if they take the Casey Highway (Route 6).
"There isn't any really specific timetable. They say within the next couple years as the signs need to be replaced, as they get worn out, they will be replaced at no extra cost to the taxpayers," explained PennDOT official Michael Taluto.
Brian Smith, chairman of the Wayne County commissioners, has been working closely with Ludick to see this idea become reality. He says it's going to make getting to Honesdale easier for drivers.
"At the major intersection, that's where people make their decision where they are going."
Those behind the sign project say the idea is to help bring tourists to the Wayne County area, specifically Honesdale, where on Main Street lots of shops and restaurants line the streets.
"There will be people coming from out of the area. We get a lot of tourism. It's our biggest industry," said Smith.
"It gives us more exposure, especially on the federal highway system which is great. It's always good to get your name out there," Ludick added.
There is no definitive timetable on when the new signs will go up along Interstate 81, but PennDOT officials plan to replace all the existing signs as they are needed in the future.