The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced a planned closure of Interstate 83 near Harrisburg on Saturday, August 24. I-83 between Exit 44B (19th Street) and Exit 45 (Paxton Street/Bass Pro Drive) will be closed for construction of the 29th Street bridge spanning the interstate.

The bridge is slated for replacement as part of East Shore Section 3 of the I-83 Capital Beltway Project.

Weather permitting, left lane restrictions are expected to be implemented in both directions of I-83 between Exit 44B (19th Street) and Exit 45 (Paxton Street/Bass Pro Drive) at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 24. This will be followed by a full closure of the interstate in this area at 11:00 PM. 

One lane of traffic is expected to be open in each direction of the interstate by 5:00 AM Sunday, August 25. All lanes are expected to be open by 8:00 AM.

• Southbound - I-83 southbound traffic will take Exit 45 (Paxton Street/Bass Pro Drive) to Paxton Street, then proceed west on Paxton Street to 17th Street and the ramp to southbound I-83.

• Northbound - I-83 northbound traffic will exit at 19th Street, then take 19th Street south to Paxton Street, then Paxton Street east to Eisenhower Boulevard north to the ramp to northbound I-83.

Starting Sunday night, August 11, and running for approximately two weeks, there will be single lane closures on northbound and southbound I-83 in the area of 29th Street for prep work associated with the demolition. These restrictions will be in place nightly from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.  

This work is associated with the first of two contracts for East Shore Section 3 of the larger I-83 Capital Beltway Project. This contract includes widening and reconstructing portions of the I-83 roadway, construction of overhead bridges at 29th Street and 19th Street, construction of the new Cameron Street Interchange, removing the 13th Street interchange, and roadway improvements along the Cameron Street, 19th Street and 29th Street corridors.

There may be significant impacts to traffic during the life of this project, including traffic shifts, lane restrictions and road closures/detours. Advance notice will be issued prior to any major traffic impacts.

PMTA member, New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company, Inc., of New Enterprise, PA, is the contractor on this $154,627,000 project. 

All work on this contract is expected to be completed by October 12, 2027.

The second East Shore Section 3 contract is expected to be under construction from 2025 to 2028 and includes widening and reconstruction on I-83, construction of the 13th Street bridge and approaches, and construction of the 17th Street interchange and widening 17th Street.

For more information about the East Shore Section 3 and the I-83 Capital Beltway Project, go to I83 Capital Beltway- Home (i-83beltway.com)Opens In A New Window.

The East Shore Section 3 construction contract map can be found here: SR0083-079-Dauphin-Construction-Sequence-Graphic-2-2023.pdf (i-83beltway.com)Opens In A New Window.