SCRANTON — Lackawanna County plans a refinancing and borrowing package to fund $29.1 million in capital projects, including fixing several roads and crumbling bridges throughout the county.
The “Comprehensive Capital Improvement Project” would fund infrastructure maintenance that has been neglected for many years, county Chief Financial Officer Dave Bulzoni said Wednesday during a meeting of the county commissioners.
The planning of the initiative dates to October 2022, which was the first month Bulzoni began working for the county, he said.
“At the time, one of our bridges went down. There wasn’t any funding available to improve it. We didn’t have a plan for improving our roads and bridges — never mind any of our other capital assets,” Bulzoni said.
Chief Financial Officer David Bulzoni speaks during the commisioners meeting in the county Government Center in Scranton Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The plan calls for the county to raise $29,125,000 in a general obligation bond via refunding an $11,995,000 short-term note from 2023 and borrowing $17,130,000 of new money, according to the county.
The commissioners voted 2-0 — with Democrat Bill Gaughan and Republican Chris Chermak both voting yes — to introduce an ordinance authorizing up to $35 million, which is a ceiling, to fund the capital improvement plan.
The county maintains 154 bridges and 35 miles of roads, many of which are classified in poor or critical condition, officials said.
Gaughan called the initiative a “responsible and forward thinking” plan that “finally addresses roads and bridges throughout the county, which are in critical condition and long overdue for attention.”
“It’s a plan, and you need a plan for this type of investment in infrastructure in our communities that people rely on every single day,” Gaughan said. “These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are the roads that our families drive on, they’re the bridges that connect our neighborhoods and they’re the backbone of economic activity in our region.”
Deferring maintenance further would only lead to higher costs, safety risks and lost opportunities, Gaughan said, adding, “We cannot afford to wait until a bridge collapses before we act.”
Chermak said he will continue to advocate for state funding to help defray costs.
“Moving forward, this is something that we definitely have to continue and stay on top of,” Chermak said.
Bulzoni said the county already has received a total of $8.5 million in federal and state funding to defray costs of certain projects and reduce the overall amount borrowed.
Lackawanna County CFO Dave Bulzoni speaks during a meeting of the Lackawanna County Commissioners on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (JIM LOCKWOOD / STAFF PHOTO)
The initiative would raise debt service in 2026 by $1 million over 2025 but will not require a tax increase to pay for debt service. “The county will use the debt-service fund balance in 2026 to offset the increase due to the onset of reassessment,” according to the plan.
The ordinance will come back before the commissioners for a vote on adoption at their next meeting Wednesday.
Road and bridge projects, including various paving, drainage and rehabilitation work, include:
• Center Street, Scranton
• Stauffer Industrial Park Road, Taylor
• Montage Mountain Road, Scranton/Moosic
• Glenmaura Boulevard, Moosic
• Main Street, Blakely
• Gordon Avenue, Carbondale
• Poplar Street Bridge, Mayfield
• GC Smith Road Bridge and retaining wall, Elmhurst Twp.
• Ash Gap Road Bridge, Spring Brook Twp.
• Plank Road Bridge, Clifton Twp.
• Rush Brook Creek Bridges, Jermyn
• Main Street, Archbald
• Lehigh Road Bridge, Covington Twp.
• Keystone Road Bridge, Clifton Twp.
• Earl Clark Road Bridge, Benton Twp.
• Pumphouse Road Bridge, Jefferson Twp.
• Phillips Road Bridge, Clifton Twp.
• Archbald Retaining Wall
• Blakely Retaining Wall
Other projects include:
• No. 5 Dam on Montage Mountain in Scranton, replacement.
• Lackawanna County Courthouse, improvements to jury waiting room and public defender’s office.
• Lackawanna County Prison, roof replacement.
• Lackawanna County, energy savings project at all facilities.
A vehicle passes under the Rushbrook Creek Bridge in Jermyn Thursday, April 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vehicles pass through the intersection of Glenmaura National Blvd. and Fielding Dr. at the entrance of The Shoppes at Montage Mountain in Moosic Thursday, April 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The side of the Lackawanna County Prison in Scranton Thursday, April 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A vehicle drives along Montage Mountain Road in Moosic Thursday, April 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The front of the Lackawanna County Prison in Scranton Thursday, April 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Vehicles drive up Montage Mountain Road in Moosic Thursday, April 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The roof of the Lackawanna County Prison in Scranton Thursday, April 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
An aerial view of Glenmaura National Blvd. as it winds down past the parking lot of The Shoppes at Montage Mountain in Moosic Thursday, April 10, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)