I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project

Project Description

The I-80 bridges over the Lehigh River are eastbound/westbound structures built in 1965 and approaching the end of their serviceable lifespans. These bridges cross over the Lehigh River, Lehigh Gorge State Park, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad and SR 1005 (River Road) in Carbon and Luzerne Counties. Combined, the bridges carry an average of 27,400 vehicles per day, about 44 percent of which is truck traffic.

The purpose of the I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridges project is to address the deterioration of the aging bridge structures and provide safe and reliable bridges that will provide connectivity for interstate travelers, commuters, commercial users, emergency services, tourists, and local residents. The project will replace the aging bridges with wider structures; increase the length of the eastbound on-ramp auxiliary lane, the height of the bridges' barriers, and the width of the shoulders to meet current interstate design standards; and improve safety in the corridor.

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​Project Information

County: Carbon and Luzerne

State Route: SR 0080-08B (Interstate 80)

Local Name: I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project

Project Type: Bridge Replacement

Design and Construction Cost: $148.9 million

Anticipated Construction Start: Spring 2024

Anticipated Bridge Completion: Spring 2028

Designer: Michael Baker International

Last Updated: December 2023

View Project History & Funding


Meetings

August 2023 Public Meeting Presentation (PDF)


Resources

Project Area Map (PDF)

What is the National Environmental Policy Act?

What is a Categorical Exclusion (CE)?

Approved Categorical Exclusion - October 2022 (PDF)

I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Categorical Exclusion Information – Fall 2022