The I-83 East Shore Section 2 project is located just south of the Union Deposit Interchange to 29th Street and includes the reconstruction of the Eisenhower Interchange and portions of US 322, I-283, and Eisenhower Boulevard. The proposed improvements include widening the I-83 mainline to three lanes in each direction with directional connections to I-283 and US 322. In addition to the regional connections, the interchange will include local access connections to Derry Street and a new interchange that will connect I-83 to Paxton Street in the area of the Harrisburg Mall.

Project History

PennDOT selected Harrisburg-based McCormick Taylor, Inc. to perform preliminary engineering and environmental studies for the East Shore Section 2 project. These studies include conducting environmental field investigations, reviewing traffic modeling, and evaluating alignment and interchange options.

In 2016, existing traffic data was collected via helicopter using time-lapse aerial photography. This data was then used to build a traffic model to provide the designers information to determine the number of lanes needed on I-83, as well as the breakdown of the type of travel I-83 is being used for (regional vs. local to the Harrisburg area). The traffic data collected for the project showed that approximately half of the traffic using the I-83 corridor is traveling local to the Harrisburg area and not just passing through. Approximately half of the traffic using the I-83 corridor from the south (York area and West Shore) is exiting I-83 to head into Harrisburg, and approximately 40% of traffic from the north (Hershey and Lancaster areas) is local traffic exiting I-83 to head into Harrisburg. This is a very large percentage of traffic that is considered local and not traveling from one end of I-83 to the other. The traffic model was used as a foundation for the development and evaluation of project alternatives which addressed the regional and local project needs.

Survey crews will continue collecting isolated data on site to supplement the aerial mapping throughout the project process. This information will provide designers with details on the existing roadway to help develop the proposed improvements.

Preliminary environmental information and a scoping field view were completed in 2017 as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The scoping field view included Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) staff, PennDOT staff, and PennDOT’s consultants from various disciplines and focused on highway, traffic, structures, environmental, hazardous waste, and cultural resources. The team discussed the location and potential impacts on resources, which resulted in FHWA making a recommendation of the type of environmental document/analysis, and the project team agreed on further studies to pursue in preliminary design.

Collecting environmental data is an important step during preliminary design.

Environmental field investigations were conducted to identify resources such as streams, wetlands, public parks and other community resources, historic properties, archaeological resources, and potential waste sites throughout the project area. Noise monitoring was also conducted throughout the project area. Similar to traffic data, the noise monitoring data was used to model changes in predicted noise levels that assisted in identifying if noise walls will be considered.

PennDOT held a public meeting in October 2018, to present the Recommended Preferred Alternative and obtain public input. Various stakeholder meetings have also been conducted and will continue throughout preliminary design and final design.

December 2019 Update

PennDOT, in cooperation with the FHWA prepared the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation documents for the I-83 East Shore Section 2 (ESS2) project. A public comment period was held from Sunday, November 3 through Tuesday, December 17, 2019. As part of the review and comment period, the public was given the opportunity to provide formal testimony on the documents at a Public Hearing held on November 19, 2019.

July 2020 Update

On June 10, 2020, the I-83 East Shore Section 2 (ESS2), Eisenhower Interchange Reconstruction project, achieved environmental approval/clearance with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issuance of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) document. The FONSI addresses comments and testimonies received during the public comment period and documents that the Selected Alternative for the project will have no significant impacts to the human environment with measures that will avoid, minimize, or mitigate any impacts from the project that were included in the EA.

Following the public review and comment period, PennDOT and the FHWA also finalized the Section 4(f) Evaluation for the project, which included a Programmatic Agreement (PA). The PA is a legally binding agreement that details the minimization and mitigation items that PennDOT is committing to completing due to the project’s impacts to Section 4(f) properties. The PA was fully executed on November 20, 2019 and the Section 4(f) Evaluation was finalized on January 31, 2020.

Please click here to download the approved Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which includes (as attachments) the Environmental Assessment Response to Comments Report, the executed Programmatic Agreement, the Errata to the Environmental Assessment and the Final Section 4(f) Evaluation. Please click here to download the approved Environmental Assessment.

As the project transitions from preliminary engineering to final design, geotechnical investigations, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, and Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H) analysis will occur. Additional information will be provided to the public at key milestones over the course of project development.

Due to the size of the project, several construction contracts will be necessary. Once the sequencing of the contracts is established, a detailed schedule for obtaining environmental permits, acquiring necessary right-of-way, and relocating utilities can be established. Actual mainline construction could start as soon as 2023.

For any questions on the environmental document or any of the preliminary engineering activities, please contact the PennDOT Senior Project Manager, John M. Bachman, at jobachman@pa.gov or 717-783-4519.

February 2021 Update

Right-of-Way contacts began in March of 2021 with property parcels involving a relocation associated with SR 0083-078 Dauphin, East Shore Section 2 project.

Phase II and Phase III Environmental Site Assessment field work occurred July through August of 2021.

High mast and conventional highway lighting will be incorporated into the project. High mast lighting will be used at the Eisenhower Interchange, which will be similar to the recently installed high mast lighting at the I-81 and US 22/322 Interchange. View photos of this type of lighting.

March 2023 Update

Due to the size of the project, the improvements will be constructed in five construction contracts. The division of improvements is shown on the Sequence of Construction Contract map which can be viewed here. The initial contract, Contract 1, is currently in the final design phase. Construction could start as soon as 2026.

Right-of-way acquisition is underway with property parcels involving a relocation associated with overall project. Right-of-way contacts with the property parcels involving a partial acquisition associated with Contract 1 are anticipated to occur later in 2023.

Utility coordination for Contract 1 is ongoing.

October 2023 Update

On October 2, 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the Re-Evaluation Environmental Assessment (EA) for the East Shore Section 2 project. The approval states that that there have been no significant changes in the proposed project, or in the affected environment, anticipated impacts, or proposed mitigation measures since the original Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) recorded June 10, 2020.

Demolition of structures that have been acquired by the Department is ongoing.

Current Project Status, January 2024 Update

As the design to the bicycle and pedestrian accomodations has progressed, adjustments have been made to the pedestrian and bicycle marking layout. Please click here to view the East Shore Section 2 Ped & Bike Marking Layout figure.