Pocono News Section

Conflicting Street Signs Confusing Drivers

Conflicting Street Signs Confusing Drivers - Friday, June 5, 2009 at 6:42PM EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Conflicting street signs are causing controversy in Scranton. One sign tells drivers to turn left. Another says not to. And some drivers are getting ticketed.
It all takes place near the Mall at Steamtown. A nearby bridge construction project has detoured traffic. One detour sign tells traffic to go left --while another sign says not to.

Friday may be the first day in months that cars can turn left at this downtown intersection without confusion. Ellie Esposito of Scranton says “It's a contradiction. What do you do? Do you make a left? Don't you make a left? How would you know?"

These three women have all been ticketed for turning left from Lackawanna Avenue onto Mifflin Avenue. A detour sign tells them to but an overhead sign, covered up after they were nabbed, told them left turns weren't allowed.

Joan Connolly of Scranton says "I was pulled over by unmarked car stating I was making an illegal left turn on Mifflin Avenue from Lackawanna." Lois Redman of Brooklyn says “I saw the detour sign. So you assumed you were allowed to make a left? Yes. Yes I did." Esposito says “they were both there. And it was confusing."

Scranton police cited them --carrying a fine of more than $109. But what makes Joan and Lois even more angry is the city finally covered up the sign, just hours after they were ticketed.

The chief of police refused to go on camera but told me on the phone that it was a simple mistake. The officers that pulled this woman over didn't notice the sign that was most likely put up by PennDOT."

The chief says it was fixed after a motorist pointed out the contradiction. But these women say police should have known. They claim the detour sign has been posted since last July. "It makes me feel like somebody's not communicating."

The chief tells me letters will go out to those ticketed advising them to disregard the citation. I spoke with the mayor late today -who tells me, the sign was supposed to be covered up a week ago. He blames a breakdown in communication.