NANTICOKE -- PennDOT plans to close a busy road in Luzerne County starting Monday and lasting through September.
It's just one of many coming road closures related to the South Valley Parkway project near Nanticoke, a major roadway being built over the next few years.
It is a massive $58 million project. Construction is now underway building a new roadway in the Nanticoke area, the South Valley Parkway, and now drivers are going to see an impact from it.
Starting Monday, PennDOT plans to close busy Middle Road at the intersection with Espy Street through September to build one of six roundabouts that will be on the new roadway.
"It's going to be nuts for a while until things stabilize, until everyone figures out the new routes," said Tom Eveland.
Eveland is an instructor at nearby Luzerne County Community College. The Middle Road closure will be right near campus.
This South Valley Parkway is being built, in part, to help students get to LCCC easier, and alleviate traffic on Middle Road and in Nanticoke.
"I hope so," Eveland said. "Like everyone, you cross your fingers and hope, but it does appear it's going to be OK.
Throughout this project there are going to be numerous road closures, most of them from time to time, but Dundee Road is supposed to be closed until 2019.
"Well it should be interesting, that's for sure," said Zach Thomas.
Thomas is an LCCC student and says Middle Road sees a lot of traffic now.
Non-students in the area say at least most of this Middle Road closure will come during summer break, lessening the traffic troubles.
"I don't think so, because LCCC won't be starting up again until September, so with the amount of LCCC students. Without that, I don't think it will be a problem," said Ed Zupko of Plymouth.
There is still some debate, though, about the entire project and all its roundabouts.
"Yeah, big change, but I don't think it's a change that's actually needed at this end of Middle Road, upper end of Middle Road yes, this end of Middle Road, no."
PennDOT expects the South Valley Parkway to be completed in 2020.
The closures on Middle Road are small segments nd will be spaced out over the next few years.
The intersection of Espy Street and Middle Road is expected to close Monday.
