The first day of major traffic changes around Bradford Regional
Medical Center’s expansion went pretty well, according to city and
school district officials.

“Actually, it’s been really good,” said Officer Dominic Cercone
of the Bradford City Police, referring to traffic up to the early
afternoon. “This morning it was relatively pain-free.”

Monday morning was the first one where commuters in the area
around the hospital were faced with different traffic patterns on
the surrounding streets. Traffic on Pleasant Street was reversed in
direction; School Street became a two-way street with no parking
allowed in front of the elementary school from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
and one block of Pleasant Street from Interstate Parkway to North
Bennett Street was closed off to allow for the beginning of the
BRMC expansion.

Bradford Area School District Superintendent Sandra Romanowski
agreed with Cercone’s assessment of the traffic changes.

“I’ve not heard any complaints,” she said after the school day
had ended. School Street Elementary School borders both of the
streets that were changed and Bradford Area High School is right
across from BRMC on Interstate Parkway.

Romanowski explained that she is usually notified if there is an
issue with bussing problems, so things must have gone smoothly.

“I’ve been here all day and I haven’t heard a thing,” she said.
She added that people had plenty of time to prepare for the
changes, which helped allay any confusion.

The Bradford City Department of Public Works has had the new
signs in place for about a month, and city council announced the
planned changes well in advance.

DPW Director Gary Alcock Sr. said the day went smoothly for the
streets department as well.

He had workers in the area to “keep an eye on the traffic,” he
explained, “but there didn’t seem to be any problem at all.

“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” he added with a laugh.
Alcock advised motorists to remember the changes are in place and
to use caution when driving in that area.

“It’s new and they need to take it easy,” he said. “School
Street is now two ways. People aren’t used to that traffic coming
at them the other way. Traffic is coming the other way on Pleasant
Street … they’re not used to that.”