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By GINA THACKARA; Times Leader Staff Writer
Friday, February 25, 1994 Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: PENNDOT, RESIDENTS
TACKLE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
WILKES-BARRE TWP. — The missing Exit 46 on Interstate 81 could become a
reality within four or five years.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation planners met with area residents
Thursday to address initial concerns about a proposed $15 million project to
construct an interchange between the interstate’s Blackman Street exit and
Kidder Street exit.
Planners also have included a project to widen Highland Park Boulevard near
Lord & Taylor’s distribution center and connect it with Mundy Street to lessen
the traffic flow along Spring Street. PennDOT officials said project planners
also have taken a proposed sports arena and the planned Wegmans shopping
complex into consideration.
A final part of the project would be a complete reconstruction of Mundy
Street.
The two additional projects could bring the total cost to near $20 million.
The interchange will be funded from a combination of state and federal
monies. Because the other two streets are local thoroughfares and not part of
the state highway system, initial stages of the projects will have to be paid
for by a combination of local and federal funds.
“We don’t have all the answers tonight,” said PennDOT engineer Chuck
Mattei. “But there’s been such an increase in economic development, resulting
in an increase in traffic in Wilkes-Barre Township and East End within the
past three years, we have to get started.”
The bad news is that construction work can’t begin for three to five years,
until all environmental, hazardous-waste, traffic-flow, storm-water management
and geological studies have been completed.
“Is there any relief in sight?” asked Robert Stroud, owner of a discount
warehouse on Mundy Street. “We need help now.”
Stroud and several residents complained that congested traffic clogs East
End streets during most of the business day. The group also asked if township
council plans any repairs for the hundreds of potholes on Mundy Street.
John Ormando, Wilkes-Barre city engineer, asked officials to look at Coal
Street, now a main connection between the East End and Center City. The
street’s infrastructure can’t handle the current traffic flow and city
officials are concerned about the possible traffic increase c