PennDOT Receives Federal Grant for Replacement of I-83 South Bridge
PennDOT’s high-priority I-83 South Bridge replacement project will be receiving a $500 million Large Bridge Project grant through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Bridge Investment Program.
The bridge, which connects Harrisburg in Dauphin County with Cumberland County, carries 125,000 vehicles a day over the Susquehanna River. Fifteen percent of these vehicles are trucks.
“This is the largest federal grant for a single transportation project in Pennsylvania history – and it’s a huge investment in this community and our Commonwealth,” said Governor Shapiro when announcing the grant. “I-83 is a vital artery in central Pennsylvania that connects our communities on each side of the river, helping 125,000 Pennsylvanians get to their jobs, medical appointments, and grocery stores every day.”
The South Bridge was one of nine bridges that PennDOT had planned to levy tolls on to fund their replacement through P3 projects before legislation and litigation supported by PMTA successfully stopped the tolling two years ago.
PMTA sent a letter in support of the grant application on PennDOT’s behalf to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, noting, “the South Bridge is a part of a major freight network for trucks carrying goods between cities on the east coast. Each day, hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of goods move over the bridge. Unfortunately, the bridge has deteriorated to poor condition, with overweight permit loads already restricted.”
The trucking industry, which employs one in every fifteen Pennsylvanians, heavily relies on the I-83 South Bridge for seamless movement of goods through the Commonwealth and beyond. As the association representing the interests of nearly 69,000 trucking companies in the state, PMTA firmly believes that the safety and functionality of this bridge are vital to the success and continued growth of the trucking sector and to keeping the east coast supply chain moving smoothly.
The I-83 South Bridge was built in 1960, widened in 1982 and, due to its age, requires more frequent and costly repairs.
The project’s total cost is anticipated to be between $1.1 billion and $1.3 billion. The bridge will be widened and modernized, and on- and off-ramps, interchanges, and shoulders will be improved to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, and enhance safety.
In addition to replacing the bridge itself, the Lemoyne interchange on the West Shore will be reconfigured and the S. 3rd Street bridge will be replaced. The viaduct from the Susquehanna River to Cameron Street, including the Front Street/2nd Street interchange in Harrisburg, will also be reconstructed.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026.