Sep. 19--WILKES-BARRE TWP. -- Event goers who use the Mundy Street entrance to Wachovia Arena will have a safer drive after Sept. 27 -- the date set for completion of a new roadway.

The Luzerne County Convention Center Authority on Thursday approved a contract with Pikes Creek Site Contractors to reconstruct the road into a 30-by-700-foot, three-lane roadway as proposed in original plans for the arena.

Future Directions Committee Chairwoman Donna Cupinski told the board Pikes Creek was the lowest bidder at $81,642 and was interested in "doing some trade-off work with us."

That means the authority could save money on the work by supplying the company with in-kind material or services such as advertising or use of a luxury box.

The board also voted to have PPL install 10 light poles along the rear entrance road. The authority will have only to pay a monthly electricity cost of $15 to $18 per light pole, said Director of Operations Jim Sincavage.

Sincavage also told the board of a proposal from Taylor Consultants to monitor the arena's electrical power use and group it with similar facilities to leverage lower prices on bulk energy purchases.

The company requires a five-year contract and would receive 0.35 percent of energy cost savings realized by the authority. It would supply a computer program to monitor energy use in real time so the authority could charge fees to high-energy-consuming acts, Sincavage said.

Board member Dave Palermo suggested Sincavage first work with Luzerne County officials to determine whether the authority could partner with the county to buy energy in bulk. The board agreed to that approach.

The authority spent about $478,000 in 2006 and about $488,000 in 2007 on electricity. Costs are expected to leap 30 percent to 50 percent in 2010 when the state cap on electricity rates expires.

Arena General Manager Rebecca Bonnevier updated the board on upcoming events. Le Grande Cirque performs this weekend; the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins begin their 10th season Oct. 8; Elton John will perform on Oct. 18; AC/DC will spend Oct. 19-27 rehearsing at the arena for its upcoming tour, which the band will begin with a concert there Oct. 28. Other acts this year include Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Celtic Thunder, Wiggles and Jeff Dunham.

Penguins CEO Jeff Barrett showed up to support keeping SMG as facilities manager; SMG's contract expires next year.

"SMG has done a terrific job. They have the people's interest at heart first. ... They take care of this building as if it's their own money, and that's invaluable. As a tenant, we appreciate that because it keeps our costs down," Barrett said.

Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.

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