I see right now a big plan is underway to make I-83 more interstate than the pre interstate freeway of US 230 Bypass, it's former route before the Interstates came into play.
If you live in the area you have seen the replacements of both US 22 and Union Deposit Road overpasses to allow for more lanes on the freeway. The original bridges looked like the Derry Street overpass over US 322 which were built for only four lanes, but now six lanes plus auxiliary lanes are needed for I-83.
The project is in five phases as more is to come including possibly building a toll bridge in place of the South Bridge across the Susquehanna River instead of giving it a replacement out of tax dollars. Then there are other widening concerns that will soon be addressed as well.
My interest in it is what about the Eisenhower Interchange which I do not see as part of this as with a six lane I-83 through there would need a complete overhaul to handle the extra lanes. Maybe it's included but not worth talking about, so that is why. Anyway glad to see PennDOT moving into the future instead of the past.
PennDOT - District 8 News: SB I-83 Traffic to be Placed in Final Configuration at Widening and Reconstruction Project Near Harrisburg (https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1517)
Quote from: roadman65 on September 27, 2021, 09:33:34 AM
I see right now a big plan is underway to make I-83 more interstate than the pre interstate freeway of US 230 Bypass, it's former route before the Interstates came into play.
If you live in the area you have seen the replacements of both US 22 and Union Deposit Road overpasses to allow for more lanes on the freeway. The original bridges looked like the Derry Street overpass over US 322 which were built for only four lanes, but now six lanes plus auxiliary lanes are needed for I-83.
The project is in five phases as more is to come including possibly building a toll bridge in place of the South Bridge across the Susquehanna River instead of giving it a replacement out of tax dollars. Then there are other widening concerns that will soon be addressed as well.
My interest in it is what about the Eisenhower Interchange which I do not see as part of this as with a six lane I-83 through there would need a complete overhaul to handle the extra lanes. Maybe it's included but not worth talking about, so that is why. Anyway glad to see PennDOT moving into the future instead of the past.
The I-83 Beltway website [https://www.i-83beltway.com (https://www.i-83beltway.com)] has some information on the Eisenhower Interchange that will have to be redesigned and rebuilt as part of the larger project.
Some links below will be helpful:
https://www.i-83beltway.com/projects/east-shore-section-2.php (https://www.i-83beltway.com/projects/east-shore-section-2.php)
(That is the section of the project involving the Eisenhower Interchange.)https://i-83beltway.com/docs/SR_0083_Section_078_Environmental_Assessment_Report_Appendices_November_2019.pdf (https://i-83beltway.com/docs/SR_0083_Section_078_Environmental_Assessment_Report_Appendices_November_2019.pdf)
(In that document, look at Pages 12—21 for Eisenhower Interchange design that was being evaluated for environmental assessment.)
After the 2018 public meeting, they posted detailed diagrams of Section 2 (https://www.i-83beltway.com/section-2-display-boards.php) and Section 3 (https://www.i-83beltway.com/section-3-display-boards.php). There's also a revision to Section 3 (https://www.i-83beltway.com/perch/resources/sr-0083-updated-website-graphic-v4.pdf), particularly to the proposed alignments of Paxton Street and the 19th Street ramps.
I'd like to know also why they didn't construct both US 22 and Union Deposit Roads into SPUIs? It could have easily been done when the overpasses were replaced.
SPUIs may not be necessary, especially at Union Deposit. And SPUIs have far higher costs than a more traditional interchange.
A SPUI would definitely be warranted at Union Deposit, but I spoke with someone from the project a while ago who told me it was just cut because of the cost of the more complex bridge and re-grading the ramps.
As for the project status, all three through lanes are open in the southbound direction! The right through lane and auxiliary lanes aren't fully paved yet, but all the stop sign merges are gone in that direction.
PennDOT - District 8 News: NB I-83 Traffic to be Placed in Final Configuration at Widening and Reconstruction Project Near Harrisburg (https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1536)
Live Now: I-83 South Bridge Project On-Demand Virtual Public Meeting (https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork/DauphinCty/Pages/I-83-South-Bridge-VPM-October-2021.aspx)
Materials are available through November 24, 2021.
PennDOT News Release: PennDOT - District 8 News: PennDOT Invites Public to Comment on I-83 South Bridge Replacement Project (http://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1547)
PennDOT - District 8 News: Nighttime Lane Restrictions on I-83 at Widening and Reconstruction Project Near Harrisburg (https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1559)
PennLive I-83 Update: If the I-83/South Bridge is tolled, "˜growth would be stalled': Dauphin County officials (https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/01/if-the-i-83south-bridge-is-tolled-growth-would-be-stalled-dauphin-county-officials.html)
Boy the state is in one big dilemma here. Charge tolls and piss off residents, or charge the treasury and wipe out its account.
FYI, April 2022 Update on the I-83 South Bridge Project is on the project page. (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork/DauphinCty/Pages/I-83-South-Bridge-Project.aspx)
Basically, the project limits are being extended east across the East Shore Viaduct to the existing PA 230 overpass. (however, the new PA 230 interchange is not shown in the project limits)
Quote from: 74/171FAN on April 07, 2022, 02:14:03 PM
FYI, April 2022 Update on the I-83 South Bridge Project is on the project page. (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork/DauphinCty/Pages/I-83-South-Bridge-Project.aspx)
Basically, the project limits are being extended east across the East Shore Viaduct to the existing PA 230 overpass. (however, the new PA 230 interchange is not shown in the project limits)
Great to see this happening and it certainly makes sense to include the 2nd St interchange as part of the project. However the PA 230 overpass does seem like an odd spot for the end of the project limit. Given the new C/D roads that will be added, it will make for an interesting interim tie-in until East Shore Section 3 is done.
PennDOT - District 8 News: PennDOT Invites Public to Comment on I-83 South Bridge Project (http://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1707)
Glad to see this happening as well. I've always been curious as to why Pennsylvania has so many underdesigned/outdated highways and interchanges for so long.
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 12, 2022, 07:53:47 AM
Glad to see this happening as well. I've always been curious as to why Pennsylvania has so many underdesigned/outdated highways and interchanges for so long.
A lot of reasons.
1. A big state, for northeastern standards. A lot of lane miles to maintain. Lot of long distance US routes. A lot of Interstate lane miles as well. Many limited access routes were built in the forties and fifties, hence the narrow profile/cross sections.
2. Severe weather - deicing chemicals and rock salt used
3. Cost of labor - "prevailing wage" etc
4. Politics, just like pretty much everywhere else
Quote from: 74/171FAN on May 10, 2022, 02:51:18 PM
PennDOT - District 8 News: PennDOT Invites Public to Comment on I-83 South Bridge Project (http://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1707)
PennDOT - District 8 News: CANCELLED: PennDOT Invites Public to Comment on I-83 South Bridge Project (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1715)
QuoteThe Commonwealth Court issued an order on May 18 stopping work related to the Major Bridge P3 initiative. Accordingly we have cancelled the public hearings associated with the project.
Finally finding clarification on this.
My scorching hot take on the I-83 South Bridge is, if you're going to charge $1-2 toll on it...make the Turnpike bridge not $3.90 toll by plate/$1.70 EZPass between 83 and 283. Have it be free or reduced toll, maybe a commuter plan. Encourage traffic coming from York/Baltimore that isn't going to downtown Harrisburg use 76->283N.
Right now you have a perfectly good 6 lane bridge sitting at like 20K AADT (the Turnpike) while I-83 sits at 6x that.
Also I know they really can't but please fix that god awful merge from 83N to 581W. That backs up in the morning sometimes as far as the Turnpike.
I fear what happens if you make no changes and begin tolling 83...Market St bridge is going to be nuts.
So I went to get my car serviced today, and I noticed the demolition of buildings on the south side of I-83 between 19th St and Paxton St is already in progress. I am a bit surprised by this as I thought construction was not to start until at least the mid-2020s if not later.
Quote from: 74/171FAN on June 20, 2022, 12:16:12 PM
So I went to get my car serviced today, and I noticed the demolition of buildings on the south side of I-83 between 19th St and Paxton St is already in progress. I am a bit surprised by this as I thought construction was not to start until at least the mid-2020s if not later.
ROW can take a few years to complete. Probably advancing whatever they can.
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 12, 2022, 07:53:47 AM
Glad to see this happening as well. I've always been curious as to why Pennsylvania has so many underdesigned/outdated highways and interchanges for so long.
Because many Interstates in Pennsylvania were built in the 1940s and 1950s, and grandfathered into the system. The fact that Pennsylvania has almost as many miles of roads to maintain as Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont combined doesn't help either, because resources get spread thinner.
Quote from: Gnutella on July 31, 2022, 11:33:44 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 12, 2022, 07:53:47 AM
Glad to see this happening as well. I've always been curious as to why Pennsylvania has so many underdesigned/outdated highways and interchanges for so long.
Because many Interstates in Pennsylvania were built in the 1940s and 1950s, and grandfathered into the system. The fact that Pennsylvania has almost as many miles of roads to maintain as Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont combined doesn't help either, because resources get spread thinner.
If we're talking about state-maintained system mileage rather than total mileage, it makes me wonder which kinds of roads PA maintains that the likes of NY leaves up to municipalities.
I'm not sure how dense the quadrant route network is, but those would be county routes in NY, so they probably comprise a good chunk of the extra mileage.
Latest I-83 East Shore Section 3 Update:
https://www.i-83beltway.com/projects/east-shore-section-3.php
QuoteConcurrent with final design of the I-83 East Shore Section 3 Project, the Greater Harrisburg Area Susquehanna River Bridge Master Plan was completed which evaluated the structural condition of the South Bridge and four other Susquehanna River bridge crossings. It was determined that the South Bridge needed to advance as an independent project and include the portion of I-83 East Shore Section 3 between the River and Cameron Street including the Front Street/2nd Street interchange. View the I-83 South Bridge Project. As a result, the I-83 East Shore Section 3 Project limits were reduced and now only includes the area from Cameron Street to just east of 29th Street, see Figure 1.
The approved October 2019 Categorical Exclusion Evaluation (CEE) document for I-83 East Shore Section 3, along with all associated technical documents, were updated to reflect the shortening of the Logical Termini and other design updates which have been publicly shared through the project website. During this process, it was found that the current project would not have substantial new environmental impacts beyond what was previously presented in the CEE. While it was originally anticipated that the environmental clearance would remain a CEE level document, based on new guidance from the U. S. Department of Transportation, FHWA and PennDOT determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) is now an appropriate class of action to document the project. As a result, the SR 0083, Section 079 EA builds upon the approved 2019 CEE and associated technical documents in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and current federal guidance.
The EA will soon be available for review electronically on this website and in hardcopy in locations to be announced. A follow-up email will be sent with a link to the document and a formal announcement and press release of the EA availability will be circulated in the near future.
The Environmental Assessment for East Shore Section 3 is now available for review through Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
https://www.i-83beltway.com/projects/environmental-assessment.php
PennDOT - District 8 News: PennDOT Invites Public to Comment East Shore Section 3 Project Environmental Assessment (http://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1886)
Quote from: Rothman on August 01, 2022, 06:50:40 AM
Quote from: Gnutella on July 31, 2022, 11:33:44 PM
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on May 12, 2022, 07:53:47 AM
Glad to see this happening as well. I've always been curious as to why Pennsylvania has so many underdesigned/outdated highways and interchanges for so long.
Because many Interstates in Pennsylvania were built in the 1940s and 1950s, and grandfathered into the system. The fact that Pennsylvania has almost as many miles of roads to maintain as Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont combined doesn't help either, because resources get spread thinner.
If we're talking about state-maintained system mileage rather than total mileage, it makes me wonder which kinds of roads PA maintains that the likes of NY leaves up to municipalities.
The "Pinchot roads," basically. Pennsylvania took over and paved most of its rural and farm roads in the 1930s, when Gifford Pinchot was the governor. This created a safer road network, but also doubled the size of the road network that the Commonwealth had to maintain.
Unfortunately, it's these "Pinchot roads" that drag Pennsylvania down on these "worst roads" lists today, because the Interstates, U.S. routes and signed state routes in the Commonwealth are mostly in excellent or good condition, even if some segments are functionally obsolete. The unsigned state routes, however, are mostly in fair or poor condition.
My guess is that PennDOT prioritizes road maintenance based on traffic volume.
Heh. I am not so sure unsigned routes are to blame for PA's perennial bottom-feeding ranking in conditions. :D
Quote from: Rothman on November 23, 2022, 06:53:31 AM
Heh. I am not so sure unsigned routes are to blame for PA's perennial bottom-feeding ranking in conditions. :D
Well I am.
(https://i.imgur.com/qrX1daZ.png)
Quote from: Gnutella on March 14, 2023, 12:50:23 PM
Quote from: Rothman on November 23, 2022, 06:53:31 AM
Heh. I am not so sure unsigned routes are to blame for PA's perennial bottom-feeding ranking in conditions. :D
Well I am.
(https://i.imgur.com/qrX1daZ.png)
Um...your graph doesn't say anything about signed versus unsigned. PA has a ton of signed routes off the NHS.
Latest update has been posted: https://www.i-83beltway.com/projects/east-shore-section-3.php
Quote
Current Project Status, March 2023 Update
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the SR 0083, Section 079 Widening and Reconstruction Project. This determination is based on the Environmental Assessment (EA) document (November 2022), the supporting technical reports (as listed in the FONSI), review of the comments received during the EA availability period and the responses to those comments, and the mitigation commitments included in the EA and the FONSI.
FHWA approved the EA for public availability on November 17, 2022. On November 18, 2022, PennDOT conducted the following outreach efforts to announce the EA document availability and the availability to request a Public Hearing:
Notification to federal, state and local public officials, and to Native American Tribal Nations
Announcement via a PennDOT press release, Newswires EIN, and various social media outlets
Email notification to those who had subscribed to receive updates via the project website
Fliers (in both English and Spanish) posted at 19 locations throughout the project area including restaurants, stores, businesses, and municipal offices
Email notification to all families with children who attend the Foose School in Harrisburg
Advertisement in the Patriot-News and Pennlive.com (online version of the Patriot News) also occurred.
The EA public comment period, and the opportunity to request a Public Hearing officially began on November 21, 2022 and ended on December 23, 2022, with requests for a public hearing due by December 5, 2022. During the comment period, in addition to the EA being available on the project website www.i-83 beltway.com, hard copies of the EA were available for public review, during regular business hours, at PennDOT's Central Office and the Federal Highway Administration Office, in Harrisburg. Hard copies of the EA were also made available for public review at the following locations:
Paxtang Borough Municipal Building
Swatara Township Municipal Building
Kline Library
McCormick Riverfront Library
No requests for a formal Public Hearing were received; therefore, a public hearing was not conducted for the SR 0083, Section 079 Widening and Reconstruction Project.
All comments received during the comment period have been reviewed and addressed and are included as a part of the FONSI Package. FHWA issued the FONSI on March 2, 2023. The FHWA approval of the FONSI and overall FONSI Package, are available through the links at the upper right.
The first of the two construction contracts is planned to be bid in the Summer of 2023, and construction will begin later in the Fall of 2023. Please see attached Sequence of Construction Contracts here for more details.
PennDOT - District 8 News: Bridge Replacement to Begin on Eberts Lane (T-854) Culvert in York County (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1969)
QuoteIn addition to replacing the Eberts Lane bridge, the contract includes constructing an additional span to the existing 3-lane, 2-span bridge on Sherman Street (Route 1033) spanning Interstate 83 and Mill Creek. That work is expected to begin next year.
This will allow Mill Creek to be relocated so Interstate 83 can be widened.
The Environmental Assessment for the South Bridge is now available for review through Thursday, November 16, 2023.
https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork/DauphinCty/Pages/I-83-South-Bridge-EA-Open-House-Fall2023.aspx
PennDOT - District 8 News: PennDOT Invites Public to Comment on I-83 South Bridge Project (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2232)
October 2023 updates have been posted for I-83 East Shore Sections 2 (https://www.i-83beltway.com/projects/east-shore-section-2.php) and 3 (https://www.i-83beltway.com/projects/east-shore-section-3.php).
Section 2:
QuoteCurrent Project Status, October 2023 Update
On October 2, 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the Re-Evaluation Environmental Assessment (EA) for the East Shore Section 2 project. The approval states that that there have been no significant changes in the proposed project, or in the affected environment, anticipated impacts, or proposed mitigation measures since the original Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) recorded June 10, 2020.
Demolition of structures that have been acquired by the Department is ongoing.
Section 3:
QuoteCurrent Project Status, October 2023 Update
In August 2023, PennDOT opened bids for Contract 1 of East Shore Section 3. Notice to proceed was given to the contractor in October of 2023 with construction estimated to be completed in 2027. Contract 1 includes widening of portions of the I-83 roadway, construction of two overhead bridges (29th Street and 19th Street), construction of the new Cameron Street Interchange, and roadway improvements along the Cameron Street, 19th Street and 29th Street corridors.
Demolition of structures that were acquired by the Department is complete.
EDIT: I just looked at the signage plans for East Shore Section 3 on ECMS, and the new exit for PA 230 (at PA 230 instead of 13th St) will still be Exit 44A. That may be a nightmare for a few list files in Travel Mapping.
EDIT 2: PennDOT - District 8 News: Work to Begin on I-83 Reconstruction Project in Harrisburg Region in Dauphin County (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2240)
(Also for PA 230) PennDOT - District 8 News: Blasting Planned Along I-83 in the Area of Cameron Street and 13th Street in Harrisburg (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/regionaloffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2312)
PennDOT - District 8 News: Nighttime Rolling Stops Planned on I-83 in the Area of 29th Street in Harrisburg (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/regionaloffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2339)
PennDOT - District 8 News: Federal Highway Administration Issues a Finding of No Significant Impact for the PennDOT I-83 South Bridge Project (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/regionaloffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2362)
PennDOT - District 8 News: Rolling Stops Tomorrow Night on I-83 in the Area of 29th Street in Harrisburg (https://www.penndot.pa.gov/regionaloffices/district-8/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2354)