SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Progress is being made on an expansive bridge replacement project in North Scranton, but this week, drivers in other parts of Lackawanna County could be affected.
Several beams were delivered for the Parker Street Bridge on Monday and several more will travel in on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The delivery route from Interstate 81 travels through several mid-valley boroughs before the final destination in Scranton.
Drivers may be stopped by local police in order to get the beams delivered as smoothly as possible.
Talk about an oversized load: It was one of four 75-foot-long beams delivered Monday to the Parker Street Bridge.
The bridge was built in 1964 and was shut down in March to begin a replacement project.
"They tore it down to nothing, and now I see progress and I keep watching it to see how far it goes," said Dickson City resident Marty Hrinko.
Bridge beam deliveries may cause delays across NEPA
Dickson City resident Marty Hrinko enjoys riding his electric bicycle along the, the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail, which is rerouted by the bridge project.
"It's very difficult, they have a path out to the side, and it's not too friendly for people that are walking or biking and I can't wait for that footbridge to be gone and a regular bridge with a sidewalk to be in," Hrinko added.
The north Scranton project is moving along and is set for completion by the winter of 2025.
The key parts are coming through Lackawanna County this week.
28/22 News tracked down one of the beam deliveries on I-81 Monday morning after traveling through the northern tier.
The route shifted to state and local roads through Fleetville, Jermyn, and Eynon before traveling through Blakely and Dickson City with a police escort.
"Down main street, down Boulevard Avenue, and right into the project," said Dickson City Police Department Chief William Bilinski.
Why this route? Dickson city police chief William Bilinski explains it's because of its length.
"It's longer than a tractor-trailer they are trying to find the flattest and straightest direct to that location as possible and this kind of just made sense. Every 15 to 20 minutes they'll be coming through," Chief Bilinski continued.
Four beams were delivered on Monday.
On Tuesday there are an additional five beams being delivered with Wednesday being the busiest.
"That's going to be our heavy day starting early in the morning, at 7:00 a.m., there's going to be seven beams coming through that day," Chief Bilinski stated.
28/22 News is told by project workers the beams delivered on Monday will be placed first thing Tuesday morning.
