Project Overview
Counties: Dauphin & Cumberland
State Route: 0083-094 (Interstate 83)
Local Name: I-83 South Bridge Project
Project Type: Bridge Replacement & Interchange Improvement
Estimated Cost: $1.1 to $1.3 billion
Proposed Construction Start: 2026
Last Updated: March 2024
Project Description
The I-83 John Harris Memorial (South) Bridge was built in 1960, and widened in 1982, and connects downtown Harrisburg to its neighboring communities to the west in Cumberland County. The bridge currently carries more than 125,000 vehicles over the Susquehanna River every day.
The South Bridge is nearing the end of its serviceable lifespan, which means that wear and tear requires more regular, frequent, and costly repairs. In addition to the replacement of the bridge, the Lemoyne interchange will be reconfigured, the S. 3rd Street bridge in Lemoyne will be replaced, and the viaduct from the Susquehanna River to Cameron Street including the Front Street/2nd Street interchange will be reconstructed. The purpose of the I-83 South Bridge Project is to improve traffic flow and safety around the Harrisburg metro region.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) I-83 South Bridge Project. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared for the project and shared with the public for review and comment from October 17 through November 16, 2023. All comments received during the public comment period received equal consideration and are addressed in the FONSI document, which can be seen here. The EA, which was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, examined the potential impacts to natural, social, economic, and cultural resources from this project and alternatives under consideration. With the issuance of the FONSI, the I-83 South Bridge Project can now move forward into final design, procurement, and construction.
The original structure of the bridge is now 63 years old and is reaching the end of its serviceable lifespan.
The South Bridge currently carries more than 125,000 vehicles over the Susquehanna River every day and is the busiest in the Harrisburg area.
Construction of the South Bridge project is estimated to begin in 2026. The East Shore Section 2 & 3 improvement projects are anticipated to move forward on their current schedules.
Yes, the I-83 South Bridge project includes the replacement, widening and lengthening of the South 3rd Street bridge over I-83 in Lemoyne. To accommodate I-83's proposed wider design the South 3rd Street bridge would be lengthened so the additional lanes can fit under the bridge. This South 3rd Street bridge would also be widened to improve bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in the area.
No. The new South 3rd Street bridge will span over the railroad as well as I-83. The new southbound I-83 exit ramp for Lemoyne will bridge over the railroad, and the I-83 mainline will span the railroads running parallel to the Susquehanna River on both the east and west shores, so no railroad relocation will be required for the South Bridge project.
As a part of the Environmental Assessment for the project, consideration was given to including a bicycle and pedestrian facility on the South Bridge. Due to a variety of challenges, there will not be a bicycle and pedestrian facility included on the bridge. As part of the South Bridge project, bikes and pedestrians will be accommodated on the South 3rd Street Bridge in Lemoyne which will be widened from three lanes with narrow shoulders and a single sidewalk to four lanes with five-foot shoulders and sidewalks on both sides. While bicycle and pedestrian facilities will not be included on South Bridge, there are other programmed projects along Bike Route J to improve bicycle and pedestrian accommodations throughout the local network. These projects include the Lemoyne Bottleneck Project, the Market Street Bridge Project, and the Streetscape Improvements along South Third Street in Lemoyne. These programmed projects would offer a better quality of experience for pedestrians and bicyclists, with lower traffic volumes and speeds that would provide facilities that are perceived as safe by users of all ages and abilities. You can learn more in the Bicycle & Pedestrian memo here.
The project team is developing the design and examining the impacts of the proposed design. You can see more information on the proposed design in the EA and Virtual Public meeting here. The comment period for the virtual public meeting/EA ended on November 16, 2023.
Contact Information
Dave Thompson
District 8 Press Officer
Marwa Said, P.E.
Senior Project Manager
i83SouthBridge@pa.gov
717-743-1005
Accessibility
The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation or interpretation services, have special needs, or have concerns that require individual attention, please contact the PennDOT Project Manager listed above.