PennDOT District 8's plan to modernize the interstate highway system in south central Pennsylvania took a major step forward with the start of East Shore Section 3, which is the second phase of an initiative to reconstruct Interstate 83 in the Harrisburg region. This larger initiative, called the I-83 Capital Beltway Project, is actually three projects, designated East Shore Sections 1, 2, and 3.
The beltway project is a more than $1 billion investment that will address significant issues. The existing roadway is deteriorated and requires frequent maintenance. Due to the pavement age and condition, resurfacing and repairs are no longer doing the trick – full-depth reconstruction is needed.
The corridor is congested and projected increases in traffic will only make it worse. This project will add capacity by widening and adding lanes.
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The interstate also suffers from outdated design characteristics, which the beltway project will address with the added lanes, interchange upgrades and the construction of collector-distributor lanes.
The first section of the project, East Shore Section 1, widened and rebuilt Interstate 83 east of Harrisburg from just south of Union Deposit Road (Exit 48) to Interstate 81 (Exit 51) in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County. Section 1 was completed in 2021.
Now the second phase – East Shore Section 3 – is underway. The first of two contracts for this section was awarded to New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company, Inc., of New Enterprise, PA, for just more than $154 million.
Work on this contract, which began in October of 2023, includes widening and reconstructing portions of the I-83 roadway, construction of overhead bridges at 29th Street and 19th Street, construction of a new interchange at Cameron Street, removing the 13th Street interchange, and roadway improvements along the Cameron Street, 19th Street and 29th Street corridors. Work on this contract is expected to be completed by 2027. In the meantime, the second Section 3 contract is expected to be bid in 2025 and be completed in 2028.
Tying these two sections together will be East Shore Section 2, which will address issues at the Eisenhower Interchange – a can of worms connecting I-83 to Interstate 283, and Route 322, a major arterial highway.