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    Lane Restrictions on Interstate 81 Northbound and Southbound in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties

    April 24, 2026

    Dunmore, PA – Drivers are strongly advised to use alternate routes, as significant traffic delays are expected from lane restrictions on Interstate 81 northbound and southbound in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties starting Sunday night as follows:

    • Lackawanna County – Starting Sunday, April 26 at 7:30 PM - PennDOT will be closing the Biden Expressway down to one lane as part of the Interstate 81/84 pavement and restoration project through the winter of 2026. 
    • Lackawanna County - Sunday, April 26 from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM on Monday, April 27 - Interstate 81 northbound from the Biden Expressway to Drinker Street will be down to one lane to install barriers as part of the Interstate 81/84 pavement and restoration project.
    • Lackawanna County - Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 1 from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM – Interstate 81 northbound will be down to two lanes from the Biden Expressway to the Interstate 84 eastbound/Interstate 81 northbound junction as part of the Interstate 81/84 pavement and restoration project through the winter of 2026. 
    • Lackawanna County – Tuesday, April 28 through Thursday, April 30 from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM – Interstate 81 southbound from the Interstate 84/Interstate 81 junction to the Biden Expressway to perform inlet repairs.
    • Lackawanna County – Monday, April 27 through Tuesday, April 28 from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM – Interstate 81 southbound rolling shoulder closures Interstate 84/Interstate 81 junction to the Biden Expressway for signage placement. 
    • Lackawanna County – Thursday, April 30 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM – Interstate 81 northbound from Moosic to the Biden Expressway for pothole patching. 
    • Luzerne County - Monday, April 27 through Thursday, April 30 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM between Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Beltway and the Hazleton/Route 924 exit to perform utility work.
    • Luzerne County - Tuesday, April 28 through Thursday, April 30 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM - Interstate 81 northbound from the Route 309/Wilkes-Barre exit to the Moosic exit to perform pothole patching and crack sealing.
    • Luzerne County - Monday, April 27 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM - Interstate 81 southbound from the Highland Park Boulevard/Wilkes Barre exit to the Blackman Street exit to perform pothole patching and crack sealing.
    • Luzerne County - Tuesday, April 28 through Thursday, May 1 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM - Interstate 81 northbound from the Mountaintop exit to the Avoca exit to perform pothole patching and crack sealing.

    Drivers can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts. 

    Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict4.

    Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

    MEDIA CONTACTS: Jessica Ruddy, jeruddy@pa.gov or 570-963-4044; Elizabeth Fabri, efabri@pa.gov or 570-963-3502

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