STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Drivers looking to get through Stroudsburg were greeted with a road closed sign when they got to Ann Street.
Newswatch 16 found Leonard Smith of Stroud Township bringing donations to a thrift store.
"We had to go the long way and managed to steal a parking spot, I how we don't get towed away," said Smith.
The borough has started a partial sewer replacement project on Ann Street between 5th and 8th Streets.
"It's an old pipe—100 years old. It's made of terra cotta clay, so we are replacing it with a larger diameter plastic pipe," said Borough Manager Larry Kopp.
Borough Manager Larry Kopp says this is a complex project because of so many underground utilities.
"There are literally sewer lines, water lines, gas lines, and there are fiber-optic cables all on top of each other, so it's a very difficult project. The pipes are 12 to 14 feet down under the ground," explained Kopp.
Since this is a heavily traveled section of the borough, officials are asking people to think of a different way around the road closure before they head out.
"I would not use it as a through road, which is expected to last about six weeks. If you park on Ann Street or if you have a business on Ann Street, you can access Ann. It will be both ways of traffic, but the area that's being excavated will not be open," said Kopp.
After the sewer work is done, the borough plans to repave Ann Street. However, that's not expected until September or October.
People tell Newswatch 16 they understand the work needs to be done, but they expect another project in Stroudsburg won't be too far behind.
"They'll repave it, then dig it up again to put another line in or something. They'll get it looking nice then tear it up again, so I try to avoid Ann Street unless I have to go to the post office," said Smith.