Pocono News Section

Lackawanna Ave. Bridge Finally Getting a Facelift

Lackawanna Ave. Bridge Finally Getting a Facelift - Monday, July 7, 2008 at 5:40PM EST

Reported by: David DeCosmo
Monday, Jul 7, 2008 @ 05:40pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKWANNA COUNTY- One of the busiest bridges in Scranton was closed to traffic Monday afternoon. It’s the Lackawanna Avenue Bridge and it won't be re-opening anytime soon.

It’s a 5.1 million dollar project that involves the total restoration of the aging bridge. Most anyone who drives or walks it will tell you it is long overdue.

The deck on the bridge is covered with potholes. One lane has been closed to traffic for nearly 10 years. There are holes in the sidewalk as well and the classic arches that support the span have been eroded by weather and time.

PennDOT is spending $5.1 million to repair the bridge which serves as a main artery in and out of the downtown from West Scranton. Drivers will be detoured from Franklin Avenue to Linden Street to North 7th Avenue.

The people hit hardest by the bridge will be the pedestrians. A lot of people use the bridge to walk to and from work each day. Jason Merritt is one of them. “You have to go all the way to the opposite way, Mulberry Street, and come all the way around in the downtown. To go to the mall where ever you have to go,” he said.

But most walkers will also tell you they don't feel very safe on the bridge the way it looks right now. "I see all the holes with all the big pot holes and the sewer thing that fell in ah sometimes I wonder as I'm walking across if it’s not going to fall in," added Merritt.

Paul Edwards walks and drives over the bridge. He agrees something has to be done. "It could use some work. The sidewalks are bad on it and, if they don't fix it, somebody's going to get hurt," he said.

Bus riders will also want to be aware that the loading spot for busses that usually use the Lackawanna Avenue bridge will shift from the west to the east side of Wyoming Avenue while the restoration is being done.

If everything goes according to plan the bridge will be restored and reopen by December of 2009.