PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch today joined legislators and state and local officials to announce the beginning of an Interstate 283 project made possible by the state’s comprehensive transportation plan, Act 89, which Governor Tom Corbett signed into law last November.
Weather permitting, a $5.6 million project to patch concrete and pave I-283 from the Pa. Turnpike to the I-83/U.S. 322 Eisenhower Interchange will begin on April 27. The project is the first crucial step to beginning a long list of improvements to I-83 that were delayed for 10 years due to a lack of transportation funding.
“We’ve had plans to improve the I-83 corridor for a decade, but they were collecting dust because we simply could not pay for the work,” Schoch said. “With the transportation plan that Governor Corbett signed, we can not only meet our basic transportation needs, but we’ll also finally make these projects a reality.”
The transportation plan is bringing roughly $800 million worth of significant I-83 corridor projects over the next 10 years including:
- widening and reconstructing of I-83 between Union Deposit Road and I-81;
- redesigning and reconstructing of the Eisenhower Interchange; and
- widening I-83 between the Eisenhower Interchange and the John Harris Memorial Bridge over the Susquehanna River.
PennDOT will invest an additional $200 million in highway and bridge projects in the eight-county region of District 8 this year. This investment includes 48 projects worth $66 million moving forward because of Act 89.
Work on the I-283 paving project will occur from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. and include periodic short-term lane closures, with ramp work also conducted at those times and using short-term detours. The project, awarded to Pennsy Supply of Annville, is estimated to be completed in May 2015.
To learn more about the project or sign up for traffic advisories visit www.dot.state.pa.us and click on the District 8 region on the “PennDOT Near You” page. Visit PennDOT’s “Comprehensive Transportation Plan” page to learn more about the benefits coming this year and moving forward because of the plan.