Funding from infrastructure law will be used to replace the high-traffic Harrisburg bridge rated in poor condition by PennDOT
Casey has led Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation in fighting for bridge replacement funding
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is announcing $500,000,000 in new competitive grant funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to replace the Interstate 83 John Harris Memorial Bridge, also known as the I-83 South Bridge. The bridge, which connects Dauphin and Cumberland counties across the Susquehanna River network, is currently rated in “poor condition” by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Thanks to this funding from the Bridge Investment Program (BIP), which Senator Casey fought to include in the infrastructure law, PennDOT can begin the critical effort to replace the I-83 South Bridge.
“This grant to replace the I-83 South Bridge is a game-changing victory for all who live, work, and travel through South Central Pennsylvania,” said Senator Casey. “I pushed for this $500 million in funding from the infrastructure law because I know how important it is that this bridge remains safe and reliable for the many Pennsylvanians who count on it. Today, we’re celebrating a truly generational investment in our infrastructure, our safety, our supply chains, and our communities.”
“When the Biden-Harris Administration took office in 2021, America faced a serious and worsening problem when it came to the condition of its bridges. Now we are seeing rapid progress in improving the condition of America’s bridges, thanks largely to President Biden’s historic infrastructure law.” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The number of bridges in good condition versus poor condition has already improved substantially under President Biden’s leadership, and today I’m thrilled to be in Pennsylvania to announce funding to repair or replace 13 of America's largest and economically significant bridges, including the I-83 South Bridge right here in Harrisburg.”
“I’m proud to announce that thanks to our partnership with the Biden Administration, Pennsylvania has been awarded $500 million for the replacement of the I-83 bridge over the Susquehanna River. This is the largest federal grant for a single transportation project in Pennsylvania history – and it’s a huge investment in this community and our Commonwealth,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “I-83 is a vital artery in central Pennsylvania that connects our communities on each side of the river, helping 125,000 Pennsylvanians get to their jobs, medical appointments, and grocery stores every day. For a year and a half, I have bothered the President and Secretary Buttigieg about this bridge – and because they listened to the good people of Pennsylvania, we will get this job done under the leadership of Secretary Carroll to connect our communities and grow our economy for decades to come.”
The award is from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Bridge Investment Program (BIP), a competitive grant established by IIJA to repair or replace existing bridges in poor condition, or at risk of falling into poor condition. In 2021, Casey cosponsored the Bridge Investment Act, which created the BIP through IIJA.
Since PennDOT rated the I-83 South Bridge in “poor” condition, Senator Casey has fought to fund the I-83 South bridge through the BIP. According to PennDOT, the bridge has developed severe cracks so dangerous that weight limits may need to be imposed on the bridge, limiting movement of freight, and creating significant congestion on other routes. With over 125,000 vehicles using the I-83 South Bridge daily, replacing the bridge is PennDOT’s number one priority. The cracks have also prompted safety concerns, particularly in light of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh in 2022.
Senator Casey led all 18 of his colleagues in the Pennsylvania congressional delegation to call for DOT to support the I-83 replacement project in October 2023. The delegation emphasized the critical nature of replacing the bridge, not just in South Central Pennsylvania, but for the broader Commonwealth. The delegation continued to advocate for the I-83 South Bridge replacement April 2024 when Casey led a bipartisan, bicameral push for the project to be federally funded through BIP. The delegation emphasized the bridge’s importance and highlighted that the project remained the largest unfunded transportation priority in the state.
The grant is not only a victory for the I-83 South Bridge, but for all infrastructure projects in the Commonwealth. With the bridge’s replacement costs estimated between $1.1 and $1.3 billion, this federal funding will benefit infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth because the federal funding prevents PennDOT from needing to divert funding from other important projects. Thanks to Senator Casey’s advocacy, PennDOT can address its number one priority without diminishing the infrastructure law’s impact across Pennsylvania.
In addition to this discretionary funding, IIJA is set to deliver a total $1.6 billion in federal formula funding to replace or repair bridges throughout the Commonwealth.
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