LENOX TOWNSHIP -- A bridge replacement project in Susquehanna County is starting to create problems, mostly because the detour near Interstate 81 that started Tuesday is a long one.
Many people who live, work, or drive through the Lenox area were forewarned there would be a detour near the Lenox exit of 81(211) starting this week.
Still, it's no consolation when it forces drivers miles out of their way and could keep customers away from businesses.
When drivers take the Lenox exit off Interstate 81 north or south, getting back onto the highway in the same direction won't be so easy.
A bridge on Route 106 is closed while crews start the months-long project to replace it.
"It's brutal, just got off the highway and this kind of sucks," said Patrick Summers of Deposit, New York.
This driver wasn't alone in finding out it would be miles before he would get to Route 92 on the other side. That's where several businesses rely on traffic from the interstate and northbound drivers are cut off.
"It's affecting us, and it will. The impact will just get worse," said Marlene Peck.
Peck owns the Lenox Restaurant and is concerned what will happen to business when the busy Fourth of July holiday comes and the week of the Harford Fair in August.
"They're going to go a different route and find different places; it's basically a 15-mile detour."
Drivers who get off the interstate can't get back on unless they take that long detour. It takes drivers south on I-81 to Route 374, and finally to Route 92 -- roughly 15 minutes.
Drivers including Chris Ofalt from the Philly area weren't prepared to start taking alternate routes.
"Leaves me thinking it's going to take me, I'll have to get off an exit sooner or take another back road right here to be where I need to be today," said Ofalt.
PennDOT is paying more to have the bridge done five weeks earlier than planned but at 10 weeks of this bridge detour, it's sure to be a problem for many.
PennDOT is in the process of placing signs along Interstate 81 north to alert drivers who plan to take the Lenox exit and get back on to take the Lenoxville exit (206). They should be up by next week.
