Motorists traveling Interstate 81 throughout Schuylkill County may face changing traffic patterns this week as state Department of Transportation crews improve the corridor.
In Pine Grove Township, crews have returned to reconstruct I-81 south, and traffic on I-81 was scheduled to return to a single lane, according to Ronald J. Young Jr., PennDOT District Press Officer for Engineering District 5. The lane restrictions had previously been dropped during the winter months.
Roadwork began Monday on I-81 southbound between 2.6 and 3.6 miles south of exit 100.
Work on this section of I-81 is part of an ongoing project that began last March from Pine Grove Township to the Lebanon County line and includes placing an unbonded concrete overlay, interchange improvements at exits 100 (PA 443) and 104 (PA 125), guide rail updates, signage updates, new pavement markings, brush/tree cutting and other miscellaneous construction. According to PennDOT’s road and bridge project construction report, the project’s current construction costs are listed at $46,058,031. Hi-Way Paving Inc., Hilliard, Ohio is the general contractor for the project, slated for completion May 2017.
Both lanes of travel will also be restricted in Pine Grove from exit 100 to exit 124, as PennDOT crews repair guide rails. The guide rail work began Monday and should be completed by Thursday. Lane restrictions are in effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the guide rail repairs.
In Frailey and Foster townships between exit 107 and exit 119 at the Highridge Park, PennDOT maintenance crews will be completing drainage work, causing lane restrictions in both directions. The restrictions are in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the work is slated to be finished Friday.
In Mahanoy Township, between exit 124 and exit 131, PennDOT workers will conduct pothole patching. The repairs began Monday and are expected to be completed Friday. Traffic will be restricted in both directions from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain is not expected to cause patching delays.