By Sarah Scinto, The Citiizens Voice
WILKES-BARRE — Paving projects that have snarled and redirected traffic in downtown Wilkes-Barre are “getting close” to wrapping up, the city’s director of operations said.
“Today is the last day for paving on Public Square,” Butch Frati said Monday.
Parts of South Main Street and other downtown thoroughfares were closed periodically Monday as crews worked to stay on schedule to complete the city’s paving projects — one on Public Square, one along River Street and others on Pennsylvania Avenue and Hazle Street.
Frati said crews will be along Pennsylvania Avenue between Market Street and South Main Streets on Tuesday, along with being along Hazle Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Stanton Street while work continues throughout the week. Crews will no longer be shutting roads or lanes down at night for paving, he said.
“We’re getting close to wrapping it all up,” Frati said.
The targeted roads went through a complete reconstruction over the course of the project, which has been planned since 2014 as part of a grant package to repave the square, Hazle Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and Market Street.
“We’ll be out of here hopefully by the end of the week,” Frati said.
Frati said drivers can expect delays on Pennsylvania Avenue heading both ways between Market and South Main streets and both directions on Hazle Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Blackman Street this week. Drivers will be able to use Public Square throughout the week.
“We might have minor delays when doing striping,” he said.
Nearing the end of the project, Frati extended gratitude to the Wilkes-Barre community and the workers who commute into downtown every day.
“People really showed patience,” he said. “It’s appreciated.”
