Drivers heading to or from the Poconos this week should plan on the trip possibly taking a little bit longer due to a day-time tunnel closure.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission closed the northbound tunnel of the Lehigh Tunnel from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday. The closure is also set to take place Wednesday and Thursday so crews can perform tunnel inspections.
During the closure both northbound and southbound traffic in the Lehigh Tunnel, between the Lehigh Valley (Exit 56) and Mahoning Valley (Exit 74) interchanges, will be forced to use a single lane each in the southbound tunnel, the turnpike commission said.
“Message boards will be activated to update motorists of any changes to the schedule caused by inclement weather or unforeseen traffic conditions,” the turnpike commission said in a news release. “If the work is delayed, it will take place on the next available day.”
Drivers were urged to turn on their headlights and stay alert while going through the tunnel.
Inspections on the southbound tunnel will be completed in the near future but no exact dates have been determined, the turnpike said.
