I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project

The I-80 Lehigh River Bridge is aging and reaching the end of its serviceable lifespan. The proposed project would address the deterioration of the aging bridge structures and provide safe connectivity for interstate travelers, commuters, commercial users, emergency services, tourists, and local residents.

We've identified needs this project is intended to address:

This project is one of nine that are being evaluated as a candidate for bridge tolling as a part of the Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership Initiative (MBP3). More information on bridge tolling and the PennDOT Pathways program can be found in the Bridge Tolling section of this Open House below.

PennDOT, in coordination with FHWA, is preparing EAs for the MBP3 Initiative candidate bridges in accordance with NEPA. These EAs examine the significance of potential impacts to natural, social, economic, and cultural resources from the alternative(s) under consideration. The results of the EA's environmental analysis will determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement needs to be prepared, or whether a Finding of No Significant Impacts can be issued.

The project team previously hosted public meetings on this project, online and in person in November and December 2021. Links to information presented during those meetings are available on the project website at www.penndot.pa.gov/i80LehighRiverBridge.

The project is currently in preliminary design, and construction is anticipated to begin in 2023.

The replacement I-80 Lehigh River Bridges would span across the valley with structures having anticipated lengths of 850 feet (eastbound) and 770 feet (westbound). Several structure options were examined with consideration of cost, constructability, and future maintenance. It was found that girder structures would be the most cost-effective option for the bridge design.

To allow maintenance of traffic during construction, the new eastbound bridge will be built just south of the existing eastbound bridge. The new westbound bridge will be built on the existing westbound alignment. The acceleration lane for the eastbound on-ramp from SR 940 will be extended across the new eastbound bridge.

You can see the recommended project design below.

Funding

The estimated cost of construction of the I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project is between $60 and $75 million.

PennDOT Pathways is a program to identify and implement alternative funding solutions for Pennsylvania's transportation system. As Pennsylvania's mobility needs have grown, the amount of funding required to support our transportation system has continued to increase. Much of our current funding comes from gas taxes and driver and vehicle fees. While this model worked well in the past, circumstances today have made it unsustainable. With PennDOT Pathways, we're looking for reliable, future-focused funding solutions that will meet our growing needs while serving our communities and all Pennsylvanians for generations to come.

PennDOT currently faces an $8.1 billion gap in highway and bridge funding. This means we aren't generating enough funds to properly maintain, restore and expand our transportation system. PennDOT is taking action to find reliable sources of funding through the PennDOT Pathways program.

For more information about PennDOT Pathways, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/funding.

One of the funding solutions identified in the Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study was the implementation of bridge tolls on major bridge projects across the state. The I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project is one of several projects being evaluated as a candidate for bridge tolling as a part of the PennDOT Pathways Major Bridge P3 Initiative. You can learn more about the program and initiative at the link above.

A bridge toll is a fee that drivers pay when using a specific bridge, often by using a service like E-ZPass. The funds received from the bridge toll would go back to the I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge to pay for its construction, maintenance and operation.

Based on feedback received from the public and at stakeholder workshops, and because of the proximity of the two candidate bridges on the eastern end of I-80 and the two on the western end, PennDOT has decided to pursue one-way tolling on four bridge projects: Lehigh River, Nescopeck, Canoe Creek and North Fork bridges. Traffic would be tolled eastbound at Lehigh River, westbound at Nescopeck, and eastbound at Canoe Creek, westbound at North Fork. Tolls are expected to be $1-$2 for passenger cars using E-ZPass at each toll location. The one-way tolling will reduce the number of tolls drivers would have to pay on I-80, as well as overall diversions and the need for additional tolling infrastructure.

To implement the toll with All-Electronic Tolling (such as E-ZPass or toll-by-plate), a tolling gantry would be installed to collect tolls from vehicles travelling eastbound across the bridge. The gantry would not require drivers to stop to pay a toll when using the bridge but would record vehicles as they pass under the gantry sensor. The toll gantry location is shown on the map below.

Signs would be placed prior to the tolling facility to inform drivers about the toll bridge, as well as at the interchanges and along the local roadway network.

PennDOT has established that tolls on the candidate bridges, including the I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge, would be in the range of $1-$2 for cars using E-ZPass and higher for toll-by-plate and for medium or heavy trucks. Exact tolling amounts would be determined once design plans are finalized so the toll would generate enough revenue for the bridge's replacement, operations, and maintenance for a period of approximately 30 years. At the end of the 30-year term for the Public-Private Partnership (P3), the tolling facility would be removed.

Qualifying emergency vehicles would be permitted to use Major Bridge Public-Private Parntership (MBP3) bridges at no cost, following the Pennsylvania Turnpike Policy (PDF).

It is expected that toll collection on the bridge would begin between 2023 and 2025.

Traffic diversion analysis comprises two distinct steps. The first is the development of the traffic model to predict how much traffic would divert off the interstate when a toll is imposed and what route that traffic would take. The second step is evaluating and analyzing the diversion routes identified to determine the impact of the diverted traffic on that route and to identify improvements to mitigate those impacts.

A detailed traffic demand model was used to identify diversion routes. The existing statewide demand model that was employed is based on assumptions involving the transportation system, regional demographics and traveler characteristics. These assumptions were then combined using data from traffic counts (including the share of truck traffic), recorded travel speeds and origin and destination patterns, along with regional travel demand models. The model is then run under various parameters to predict the amount of traffic that would be diverted off the interstate and more importantly, where that traffic would go.

If a toll is placed on the I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge in the eastbound direction only, an estimated 5% of daily traffic is expected to choose to divert off the interstate to avoid paying the toll, based on the results of the detailed traffic model. The model was also used to analyze what routes they would predominantly take. Diverted traffic would be primarily passenger vehicles and small trucks. As mentioned above, based in part on feedback received from the public and at stakeholder workshops, PennDOT has decided to pursue one-way tolling for the four I-80 bridges and would only collect tolls on the eastbound Lehigh River Bridge.

So where does the majority of the diverting traffic go? The primary diversion route identified for this project is State Route 940. This route is shown on the map below. You can click on the map to enlarge it.

As you can see from the table below, the AM and PM Peak Hour traffic on the bridge will be reduced by approximately 100-120 vehicles per hour, and the primary diversion route will increase by approximately 70-80 vehicles per hour. The remaining diverted traffic will utilize a variety of other routes, but those routes will not be substantially impacted given the amount of traffic predicted to use them.

2023 Peak Traffic Volume

Route	Time Period	Pre-Toll Traffic	Post-Toll Traffic
Primary Diversion Route	AM Peak Hour	225	305
Primary Diversion Route	PM Peak Hour	300	370
I-80 Lehigh River Bridges	AM Peak Hour	2,080	1,980
I-80 Lehigh River Bridges	PM Peak Hour	2,800	2,680

The origin-destination patterns are also taken into account in looking at diversion. The origin-destination criteria is divided into three categories: local (less than 10 miles), regional (10-25 miles) and external (more than 25 miles). As you can see in the graphic below, the majority of the traffic traveling over the bridges originates from external locations and is destined to external locations. Because these trips are typically long-distance trips, this type of traffic is more likely to stay on the interstate and not divert.

Once it was determined how much traffic would divert and the primary route that would be utilized, a comprehensive evaluation of the potential impacts to the diversion route was undertaken. The graphic below highlights the key methodology for the evaluation of the diversion route.

A workshop was conducted with key stakeholders in August 2021 to get feedback on the diversion route analysis and collect additional information on routes drivers might take, and potential impacts from diverting traffic. This feedback was incorporated into the traffic diversion analysis and evaluated to identify improvements PennDOT could consider to mitigate effects on the community caused by toll diversion. The analysis and recommended improvements to off-set effects are shared below.

An extensive traffic study was conducted of the primary diversion route, including field observations and stakeholder coordination, traffic counts, capacity analysis, and crash analysis.

Based on feedback received during outreach and the subsequent analyses, numerous improvements were evaluated and are detailed below. Because modeling forecasts can sometimes differ from actual impacts, before and after studies will be conducted on the diversion routes. These studies will confirm the models' results or identify areas where additional evaluations should be conducted to identify improvements for consideration and potential implementation.

Based upon detailed evaluation of issues identified by project stakehol

• Mill the existing pavement and repave the intersection of SR 940 and SR 437, to reestablish the curb line and update the ADA ramps at the intersection to meet the new pavement elevation. Shift the double yellow line on the westbound SR 940 approach to the intersection with SR 437 by approximatley 5 feet to the north, to accommodate major truck turning movements.
• Repair/replace the gabion retaining wall, adjacent pavement, and guide rail along SR 940 along the curve to the east of the Lehigh River.
• Mill and repave SR 940 (Berwick Street) between Church Street and Towanda Street, including base repairs at the multiple areas of significant pavement shoving/rutting.
• Review the existing speed limit signage along SR 940 between the I-476 interchange and the Lehigh River, and supplement in appropriate locations, provide paint striping and radar speed signs emphasizing speed limit.
• Modify the existing pavement striping on SR 534 at SR 940 to bring left-turning SR 534 vehicles closer to a 90-degree angle at the intersection and cut back vegetation within ROW along SR 940, to the east of SR 534.
• Install a flashing beacon for crossing SR 940 at Main Street to improve the visibility of the crosswalk and repaint crosswalk at the existing crossing of the D&L Trail at SR 940. Install curb bulb outs along SR 940 at both Main Street and Towanda Street to reduce the width that must be crossed when pedestrians are crossing the roadway. Also, improve the overall vertical alignment of SR 940 in the vicinity of the railroad tracks to minimize the steep grade differences.
• Prohibit 102" twins and trailers over 28.5 feet along SR 940 from SR 534 to I-80 in White Haven.
• In order to calm traffic traveling on SR 940, east of the Lehigh River, narrow the lane widths on SR 940 betwen Springhill Road and Centre Street and install 3 center islands to emphasize the cross section change and install a gateway treatment at the eastern end of this section.

Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-Income Populations (February 11, 1994), directs federal agencies to identify and address, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of programs, policies and activities on minority and low-income populations.

• Low-income is defined as a person whose median household income is at or below the Department of Health and Human Services federal poverty guidelines ($26,500 for a household of four).
• Minority is a person who is: (1) Black (2) Hispanic or Latino (3) Asian American (4) American Indian and Alaskan Native or (5) Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.

Implementation of a toll would affect all bridge users regardless of income and minority status. Because tolls would comprise a larger percentage of a low-income bridge user's income, tolls would have a greater effect on these users, particularly if they depend on the bridge for daily travel to work or other destinations. As a result, and in keeping with other Department of Human Services (DHS) financial assistance programs offered in Pennsylvania (SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP), PennDOT is proposing to offer toll-free bridge access to low-income persons qualifying for one or more of these DHS programs. The DHS financial assistance programs use a progressive income limit based on the number of people in a household (equivalent to about $35,000 for a family of four — but it varies slightly by DHS program). Individuals who qualify for toll-free bridge access would select one toll bridge from the Major Bridge P3 Initiative to apply these benefits.

PennDOT will reassess the low-income toll program five years after substantial completion of the individual bridge project. The purpose of this reassessment will be to determine the effectiveness of the low-income toll program for reducing the burden of tolls on low-income households and, depending upon the outcome of the reassessment, identify alternative solutions for reducing the burden on low-income households.

As a result of PennDOT's tolling policy explained above, no adverse effects on low-income bridge users are expected to result from implementation of a new toll. PennDOT would implement an extensive public outreach program to provide information on the tolling policy and assist low-income and minority populations in the application process to enter the program and benefit from the tolling policy.

U.S. Census data, a windshield survey, and information received from PennDOT outreach initiatives have not identified low-income or minority populations along the traffic diversion route. As indicated in the Traffic Diversion Analysis section above, PennDOT would make minor roadway improvements to minimize effects on the diversion route.

Nevertheless, PennDOT is seeking participation by all potentially affected communities in order to understand how the effects of increased traffic may impact low-income and minority populations. You are encouraged to contribute to our understanding of local conditions by submitting your comments using the form at the end of the meeting.

The next step is to complete the NEPA process for this project. The results of the EA's environmental analyses will determine whether an Environmental Impact Statement needs to be prepared, or whether a Finding of No Significant Impact can be issued.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2023.

Here, you can see a timeline of the project's major milestones completed to date along with estimated timeframes for milestones moving forward:

Thank you for visiting the Environmental Assessment Open House and reviewing these materials and the EA prepared for the I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project.