Lackawanna County unveils $35 million bond plan to repair roads, bridges and county facilities

The Lackawanna County Board of Commissioners held the first reading of an ordinance authorizing up to $35,000,000 in general-obligation bonds to fund a multi‑phase capital improvements program for roads, bridges and county facilities.

County Chief Financial Officer Dave Bolzoni said the ordinance would (1) refund approximately $11,990,000 in short-term notes issued in December 2023, (2) modify the interest rate on a $14,225,000 note issued in December 2023, and (3) issue a new short‑term note of about $17,500,000 to fund a second phase of capital projects. “Phase 1” work funded earlier by 2023 notes principally covered roads and bridges; phase 2 would target additional bridges and related projects, Bolzoni said.

The nut of the plan, Bolzoni told commissioners, is addressing projects that engineering assessments classify as in “poor” condition. He outlined dozens of specific projects across the county that were included in the two phases, naming the Center Street repaving, Montage Mountain resurfacing, Gordon Avenue stormwater improvements in…