The concrete barriers that blocked traffic from using Meridian Road in the Renfrew area of Penn Township have been removed, and motorists were reportedly using the road Tuesday evening.

The section of road was closed in late November after months of one-lane traffic due to the collapse of a portion of the road above the railroad tracks.

Since then, residents have lamented the long PennDOT detour and complained that the site is not being repairing quickly enough.

State Department of Transportation crews installed guide rails around the collapse while the road was closed, then recently removed the concrete barriers on either side of the collapse and replaced them with movable barriers.

“Road closed” signs have been replaced with “One-lane road ahead” signs at the site.

Matthew Burkett, PennDOT District 10 manager of maintenance, said on Tuesday that motorists must have laid aside the movable barriers and began using the single-lane road, as PennDOT not yet officially reopened the road.

“We’re trying to get it open as soon as possible,” he said.

Burkett said the concrete barriers will not be replaced, which some say indicates the road will be officially opened in the near future.

Stop signs with blinking lights have been returned to the uphill and downhill sides of the one-lane section.

Burkett said he would contact the Eagle on Wednesday if more information is available on reopening the stretch of Meridian Road on a single-lane basis.