Parker Street Bridge closing for reconstruction project in Scranton

UPDATE: PennDOT has delayed the closure of the Parker Street Bridge by two days so PPL has time to relocate utilities.

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that the Parker Street Bridge in Scranton will close to start the bridge reconstruction project.

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti’s office announced that beginning Wednesday, March 27, a section of Parker Street will be closed down well into December for a long-planned bridge replacement project.

According to PennDOT, a pedestrian bridge will be accessible during construction of the new bridge which is expected to reopen in the winter of 2024/2025.

A public meeting was held in June 2021 to present the proposed project and for the public to voice their concerns or comments.

PennDOT says the project will replace the existing structure that previously carried two lanes of traffic on Parker Street over the Lackawanna River into Scranton.

Mail-in and absentee ballots deadline quickly approaching

According to a PennDOT Bridge Conditions Report, the Parker Street Bridge is 1 of 15 rated in poor condition within the city of Scranton, and 1 of 34 rated poor throughout Lackawanna County.

Officials say of the 15 city bridges rated poor, the Parker Street and Elm Street bridges over the Lackawanna River near South Washington Street had the worst ratings and are in critical condition.

Other bridges in the Scranton Local Bridge Project, all of which are rated poor, are:

• the West Lackawanna Avenue Bridge between 7^th and 9^th Avenues;

• the East Elm Street Bridge between 3^rd and Wyoming Avenues; and

• the North Main Avenue Bridge between Marvine Avenue and Watkins Street.

According to officials, the existing two-span adjacent box beam structure was built in 1964 and has experienced significant deterioration and needs to be replaced. The existing structure width is approximately 36’-6” and the bridge is posted with a five-ton limit.

DETOUR: Residents and drivers are advised of a detour put into place while the bridge is being reconstructed that is around a 3.5-mile, 10-minute detour between Boulevard Avenue and North Main Avenue.

• From West of the bridge:

  • Head north onto North Main Avenue and travel 1.8 miles to the intersection of North Main and Boulevard Avenues.

  • At the intersection, turn right and head southeast along Route 2006 (Boulevard Avenue) for 1.7 miles to the intersection of Boulevard Avenue and Parker Street.

• From East of the bridge:

  • Head north onto Route 2006 (Boulevard Avenue) and travel for 1.7 miles to the intersection of Boulevard Avenue and North Main Avenue.

  • At the intersection, turn left, head south on North Main Avenue, and travel for 1.8 miles to the intersection of North Main Avenue and Parker Street.

PennDOT details that the project includes pavement reconstruction on the bridge approaches and resurfacing at the intersection of N. Main and Boulevard Avenues.

For more information, travelers can visit the PennDOT webpage dedicated to the revitalization of five Scratnon bridges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.