Traffic detoured around Hotel Sterling - Citizens Voice

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 Wilkes-Barre officials have closed portions of River and Market streets around the Hotel Sterling amid worries that parts of the 114-year-old building could collapse. 

The city has closed one northbound lane of River Street and two westbound lanes of Market Street near the hotel. The closures have made Market Street one-way between River and North Franklin streets. According to a detour map developed by the Pennoni Associates engineering consulting firm:

>  Motorists driving north on South River Street will need to take a detour on West Northampton Street to North Franklin Street and then to West Union Street to meet up with North River Street.

>  Motorists driving west on Market Street from Public Square will have to detour onto North Franklin Street and use West Union Street to reach North River Street to loop around to the Market Street Bridge.

>  Market Street's eastbound lane will remain open to traffic.

On Sept. 15, engineers inspected the downtown landmark and found that up to 8 feet of water rushing from underneath the Market Street flood gates had poured into the hotel's basement. One engineer expressed concern about the stability of a parapet and brick veneer on the River Street side of the building.

A York-based consulting firm has already recommended the building be demolished, and Luzerne County and city officials have been working to find funding sources for the estimated $1 million demolition bill.