Plans for the rebuilding of Interstate 80 west of White Haven to the Route 309 exit in Drums are now online. The project rebuilds 7.5 miles of I-80 east due to Alkali-Silica Reaction failure of the existing concrete, which means the cement and aggregate are losing their bond, so ultimately the concrete fails. Fixing this means a complete pavement removal and reconstruction. The project is planned to start in the spring of 2025 and be complete before the summer of 2030.

The timing puts this project within the timeline of the Interstate 80 Lehigh River bridge replacement so travelers west from Carbon County would encounter the new bridge work and then the roadway replacement project from East Side Borough to Drums. The Interstate 80 Lehigh River bridge project is the one where tolls are proposed.

PennDOT says two lanes of traffic will be maintained both westbound and eastbound on the 7.5 mile stretch, so there will be no detours required. However, all traffic will be detoured through White Haven toward Mountain Top at least once in 2025, 2026, 2028 and 2029 when structures are replaced. This detour would also be used in the event of a crash closing the narrowed highway - which would back up westbound traffic into Carbon County as all highway traffic funnels onto local roads.

Online information, including the proposed detour route, detailed project information, and comment form can be found at https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/ district-4/PublicMeetings/Pages/default.aspx. Click on the Luzerne County box, then choose the tile marked I-80, Section 311, Pavement and Bridge Replacement Project