MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — U-turn after U-turn, that's what drivers had to do after they were met with road-closed signs at the intersection of Route 209 and Shafers Schoolhouse Road in Stroud Township.
"I thought I would be able to go left or right, but it's no outlet, so that's not going to work," said Lynda Walsh of Stroudsburg.
The view from Skycam 16 shows the first day of the traffic pattern changes at the intersection while crews are busy at work on the project years in the making.
"Over the years, there have been several major crashes at this intersection, so that was one of our driving forces to getting this project done at this intersection," said Sean Brown, PennDOT press safety officer for District 5.
Crews are working on widening the road and making safety improvements at the intersection.
Now, the traffic lights are turned off on Route 209 and drivers can no longer make turns or drive across the 4-lane roadway at the intersection.
'Then we are going to work on widening the highway to allow for right turn acceleration and deceleration from 209 on a right turn basis in both directions," explained Brown.
PennDOT officials say it will be at least a year until drivers will be able to access Route 209 from shafers school house road, which means lots of detouring for people who live nearby.
"For people like me who work in a different state, 209 was my primary route of transportation, so now it is going to take me an additional 30 minutes or more to get to where I need to go," said Erin Whitcomb of Stroud Township.
Once work is complete, the intersection will only allow right-hand turns from both Route 209 and Schafers Schoolhouse Road. It's a change not everyone thinks was needed.
"I don't think they need to take that traffic light out. I don't think it needs the safety upgrades it was doing just fine before," said Whitcomb.
"I am glad because there have been horrific accidents on this road, so I'm glad they are getting rid of the light for people's safety," said Walsh.
PennDOT anticipates this project will wrap up late next summer.