CLARKS SUMMIT -- The last two weeks have seemed a bit long for people in northern Lackawanna County. It's been a waiting game in traffic on Interstate 81 northbound.
It's been down to one lane in the Dickson City and Clarks Summit areas for two weeks longer than expected.
Costing drivers:
"Time and more gas," said Karen Owens of Daleville.
Owens is in sales and drives a lot. She's avoided I-81 for the better part of two years since PennDOT started a $30 million overhaul of the highway.
The latest lane closure has been in place so crews could finish scaling back a rock wall near Clarks Summit
A major part of the project is finished. Northbound lanes will reopen at the end of the week. But, the project is not quite done.
Come next week, there will be bad news for southbound drivers.
"I understand that they're moving it to the other side, and we're gonna be, it'll be fun over there. But, they do what they have to do," added Janice Holston of Clarks Summit.
Three miles of I-81 southbound will be down to one lane for a few weeks so that crews can do base repair on the road. One of the final steps of the #30 million project.
PennDOT officials say that part of 81 hasn't seen so much construction since it was built in the 1950's.
"If they make improvements that don't go bad in 2 or 3 months, I'll be happy," Holston added.
