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Unusual 'sign of the season' stirs debate over Carverton Road Intersection

An odd request for Santa from drivers in Luzerne County. All they want for Christmas is a change in the traffic flow in one part of the Back Mountain.

LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — It's a Christmas wish Santa probably doesn't hear too often; drivers in Luzerne County's Back Mountain looking for a little help with the flow of traffic this holiday.

"It's the worst; you wait five minutes to turn left here," said driver and Kingston Township native Justin Finarelli.

Carverton Road in Trucksville often sees quite a traffic backup. Drivers say they spend a lot of time waiting to get through the light at the intersection with Route 309, also known as Memorial Highway.

Dottie Gregory of Trucksville says she's been putting up with the intersection since the highway was first built.

"It's horrible. Work time especially, people coming home from work, it's back all the way up," said Gregory. 

"I've literally turned up the road to avoid this light and gone out of my way just so I don't have to sit at the light," added Finarelli.

Susan Allen has lived in Dallas for nearly 19 years. On Christmas Eve, she stumbled upon a sign at the intersection with a special request for Santa.

"We were on our on our way on Christmas eve to go visit family for the day and of course we got stuck at the light, and we saw that sign. Whoever did it- brilliant, absolutely brilliant," laughed Allen. 

The sign says 'All I want for Christmas is a [green arrow traffic light]." Allen says she didn't create the sign but took a picture and posted it online. The post sparked some new debates online around the same old complaints about the intersection.

"I was about that close to getting hit. It scared me to death, and they're just running lights because people are impatient," explained Gregory. 

There is currently a left-turning lane to get onto Memorial Highway from Carverton Road. However, drivers believe that adding a left turn arrow to the traffic light will help move traffic along. 

The drivers hope Kingston Township, PennDOT, or maybe even Santa himself can help 'green light' the project.

"The green turn arrow would be great. I think they can also change the timer because I know if you're sitting there, you'll wait forever," said Finarelli.

"It seems like it already may be in the works somehow. But whoever made that sign, you should put your name on it. It's brilliant, and it spoke to many of us who live back here," added Allen.

Newswatch 16 has reached out to PennDOT and Kingston Township to see if a traffic study has been submitted or if drivers can expect any changes on Carverton Road. PennDOT says they are looking into our request.

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