Residents, council press PennDOT for traffic light at Cross Valley exit

Residents and council members told Wilkes-Barre officials on July 10 that an exit from the Cross Valley Expressway lacks a traffic signal and presents a dangerous left-turn onto a multi-lane city roadway. Victor Zolkowski, who said he drives the exit daily, asked why Wilkes-Barre’s exit is “the only exit off the Cross Valley without a light,” describing vehicles crossing three lanes of traffic and multiple near-accidents. He said people he knows “refuse to get off at that exit” because of safety concerns and asked whether the city would “give this another shot” in seeking changes. Councilman Barrett, who has reported the issue at prior meetings and engaged PennDOT previously, told meeting attendees that PennDOT offered to perform a traffic study and said that if PennDOT approved a signal the municipality could install it at the city’s cost. Barrett said he believes the state should bear the burden: “My take on it is if it weren't for that state highway exiting onto a city roadway, we wouldn't need a traffic light. I think the burden should be on the state to put the traffic light at the end of their ramp.” Mayor George Brown acknowledged the recurring concern and said the council has raised the issue at successive meetings; he and staff said they would pass the matter to PennDOT for review and noted previous meetings with PennDOT and state representatives. The mayor also reported that staff and council have driven the area and observed heavy traffic and multiple nearby signals, but that the ramp area remains without a light. No vote or ordinance action was taken at the July 10 meeting. City officials said they will continue to discuss the location with PennDOT and state representatives and will forward complaints and evidence to the agency responsible for state highway ramps.