WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on Thursday announced that work is underway on a new bridge that will connect Route 115 to Interstate 81 south.
According to PennDOT, the I-81 bridge replacement project consists of replacing the three existing bridges within the Interstate 81 and Route 115 interchange, re-aligning Route 115/309 southbound, and building a new ramp to provide a connection from Route 115/309 northbound to I-81 southbound.
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, said “everyone will be very happy to know” that construction has begun on the long-awaited road improvement project connecting Route 115 traffic to a direct overpass to enter I-81 South safely and efficiently.
Pashinski said that once completed, traffic will no longer have to travel down from Route 115 to connect to the Cross Valley Expressway, then exit to get to the traffic light connecting Route 315, through the light and then to the ramp to enter I-81 south.
He said the distance is approximately a mile out of the way and depending on the red light and traffic congestion, this detour could be a 5-to-8-minute delay.
“This traffic pattern was initiated after several serious auto accidents caused by the Route 115 traffic coming down the hill and then having to make a left-hand turn to gain access to I-81 south,” Pashinski said. “It became evident that this intersection was not safe and it was closed to prevent any more accidents and potential deaths.”
Pashinski said it became clear that the only safe way to get to I-81 south from the bottom of Route 115 was to construct a flyover from Route 115 to I-81 south, eliminating any interaction with any other vehicles.
“Once completed, safety, time and less stress will be a joyous change from the present traffic pattern,” Pashinski said.
According to PennDOT, Route 115/309 southbound will be re-aligned adjacent to the northbound alignment and the old southbound alignment will be used for a portion of the ramp E-spur alignment.
In addition to the bridge replacements and retaining wall construction, roadway work includes reconstructing Route 115/309 and the Route 8015 interchange ramps to accommodate grade and alignment changes.
PennDOT also plans new ITS, guide rail, drainage, pavement markings, signage, sign structures and sign lighting, highway lighting, delineators, and other miscellaneous construction throughout the project limits. Excavation, treatment, and disposal of acid producing rock (APR) encountered within the project limits during normal excavation are anticipated.
Traffic control
PennDOT anticipates that two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction along Interstate 81 and Route 115 for the duration of construction. There will be times when traffic is restricted to one lane or may be shifted to the roadway shoulders, though scheduled night-time construction should help to alleviate traffic impacts when travel lanes are restricted/shifted.
During critical construction stages, the ramps from Route 115 northbound to Interstate 81 northbound and from Interstate 81 southbound to Interstate 115 southbound will each be closed. The detour route will use Exit 2, Wilkes Barre Boulevard.
Construction is anticipated to last approximately 3 years, concluding in late 2027.