SCRANTON, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is advising motorists of significant traffic impacts on Interstate 81 in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties this week due to ongoing construction projects. Drivers should plan for delays and potential detours through Thursday.
In Lackawanna County, northbound and southbound lanes of I-81 will have lane restrictions between Exit 178 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport) and Exit 185 (The Scranton Expressway). This work is scheduled for 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily through Thursday and is for shoulder cutting operations. Drivers should be prepared for slower speeds and merging traffic in this area.
Further south in Wilkes-Barre, I-81 will experience rolling roadblocks on both northbound and southbound sides between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. nightly through Thursday. These temporary road closures are necessary for crews to set beams for the Route 115 bridge project. Traffic will be stopped for approximately 15 minutes at a time as the work is performed. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes or expect intermittent delays.
PennDOT reminds drivers to stay alert for these work zones, reduce speeds, and be aware of construction crews and changing traffic patterns.