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Partly sunny skies, low 80s on Independence Day, showers likely tonight

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The Beer Meister: A Fourth of July tea party

<p>Traffic is running smoothly on area roads this morning as the Fourth of July holiday weekend winds down. That could change throughout the day and into the evening as people return home or travel to and from local fireworks shows. AAA estimated a record number of 43 million Americans will travel during the holiday weekend and most of them, 36.3 million will be driving.</p><p>Expect some changes and delays with the start of the work week Tuesday, however.</p><p>Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre will be paved with the work being done at night. The project is expected to take five days. Motorists are advised to use caution and be alert for delays and changes in traffic patterns. Upon completion of Public Square, paving work will continue on Pennsylvania Avenue and Hazle Street.</p><p>Another nighttime project will start Tuesday on state Route 309 or the Cross Valley Expressway. Between Tuesday and Saturday, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, a contractor will be switching traffic on the roadway from the bridge over Wyoming Avenue to the bridge over Union Street, Exit 6 on the Cross Valley, PennDOT said. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the switch.</p><p>The plan for move calls for the first two lanes of northbound traffic to be shifted to the northbound driving lane and shoulder. After the temporary concrete barrier is reset, line eradication and application of new epoxy markings, the two lanes of southbound traffic will be shifted to the northbound passing lane and shoulder. The opposing lanes of traffic will be separated by a temporary concrete barrier. Short term delays may occur during the shifts over the 5 night switch. Work operations and duration of switch are weather dependent.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Traffic is light and moving freely on I-81 South, south of state Route 29 in Luzerne County. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_PennDOT-Traffic-cam.jpg</photo0><caption0>Traffic is light and moving freely on I-81 South, south of state Route 29 in Luzerne County. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>

Travel outlook good as motorists go forth on the Fourth