Keystone Today

Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), 133 projects that will help repair roads and bridges in south central Pennsylvania are either underway or will be getting started this year.

According to a release by Gov. Tom Wolf on March 29, the projects entail 123 miles of paving and the repair or replacement of 80 bridges across what is known as Pennsylvania Department of Transportation District 8. This includes the counties of Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York. In 2022 alone the BIL has brought at least $55.6 million in additional funds to be allocated.

“President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making an immediate impact on Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges by accelerating infrastructure projects throughout the commonwealth,” said Gov. Wolf. “South central Pennsylvania will see an estimated $297 million worth of infrastructure projects continue, begin, or go out to bid this construction season. These projects are vital to ensuring the people who live and work in Pennsylvania have safe, modern and efficient transportation network.”

Funds through the BIL were allocated to PennDOT and partners through the Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organization. This includes Adams County Office of Planning and Development receiving $2.7 million; $3 million to Franklin County Planning Department; $23.6 million going to Harrisburg Area Transportation Study; $15.9 million goes to the Lancaster County Planning Commission; $2.6 million heading to the Lebanon County Planning Department and $7.8 million to the York Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

There are a variety of projects with a wide range of costs starting this year. The Lime Street resurfacing project in Lancaster starts at $3 million but other costs go all the way up to $29.7 million like the Centerville Road interchange improvement project in East Hempfield Township in Lancaster County, costing $19.7 million.

One of the main projects that have already started and will continue this year is the resurfacing of I-81, costing $26.5 million. The resurfacing area is in Southampton, Shippensburg, South Newton and Penn townships in Cumberland County. Another $19.4 is going to resurfacing and safety improvement projects on Route 15 in Franklin and Carroll of York County, and Huntington and Latimore townships of Adams County.

“Additional federal funding is welcome as we face the challenges of modernizing and maintaining one of the nation’s largest transportation systems,” said Acting Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Mike Keiser. “PennDOT will leverage these funds to advance projects that will improve safety and mobility in south central Pennsylvania and the state.”

Officials are asking motorists to be safe throughout the duration of these projects. People are asked to pay close attention to speed limits, signs, flaggers and other driving laws. In high traffic locations, motorists are encouraged to use both lanes of travel to the merge point and are to take turns merging into the open lane.

“As District 8 ramps up its construction and maintenance activities this spring, we ask everyone who travels on our highways to make safety their number one priority,” said Acting District Executive Christopher Kufro. “Safe driving will help keep both our workers safe and motorists safe.”

For more information call 5-1-1 or log onto 511pa.com where you can find traffic information, weather, speed updates and 1,000 traffic cameras to view.