Long-anticipated repairs in Scranton to the West Linden Street bridge that has been closed for two years began Monday, officials said.
Excavation work forced the closure of the sidewalk to pedestrians, but that didn't stop Tony Ludovici of West Scranton. While walking from downtown to his North Bromley Avenue home, Mr. Ludovici said he was told by bridge workers that the sidewalk was closed. He said it was open earlier in the day when he first crossed it. However, while walking back home, instead of taking the suggested detour, Mr. Ludovici ambled across a large pipe next to the bridge that also spans railroad tracks, he said.
"I've been going this way 52 years," said Mr. Ludovici, 52. "This road here we used to travel all the time. Since they closed it (two years ago), it's such an inconvenience."
And it will continue to be so until at least December, when the bridge project is expected to be completed, officials said.
Fencing that blocks the bridge to traffic and pedestrians has signs stating the detour is West Lackawanna Avenue, a block away. Last week, Councilman Jack Loscombe expressed concern about the condition of a crumbling sidewalk wall on the city-owned West Lackawanna Avenue bridge. But as long as that bridge's sidewalks remain open, they would remain the pedestrian detour for the shuttered West Linden Street bridge, said PennDOT spokesman James May.
"First and foremost, if there's a work zone (on the Linden Street bridge), it's closed (to pedestrians) for a reason," Mr. May said. "We certainly don't want people going through work zones as a shortcut. We cannot emphasize that enough."
Climbing up and down embankments and walking across the railroad tracks that are private property also is trespassing and could result in a citation, he said.
The West Linden Street bridge has been closed for repairs since a retaining wall collapsed in March 2011. The repair project has been a complicated one due to various utility and railroad issues, Mr. May said.
State Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton, said in a statement the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission still must approve a permit for the redesign of a retaining wall, a process that could take six weeks. The excavation work was able to begin because it is not part of that PUC permit, said Mr. Flynn.
"It has been just over two years that our residents have been doing the detour," Mr. Flynn stated. "This excavation work could keep (the contractor) busy up until the new design is approved."
Because West Linden Street is one of the key arteries linking West Scranton and the downtown, residents and motorists look forward to the bridge and its sidewalks reopening, Mr. Ludovici said.
"It's ridiculous," Mr. Ludovici said. "I mean, I know our city doesn't have any money. I know our state doesn't have any money. But over two years waiting to get our road fixed?"
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