From the junction with I-81 to the interchange with PA 581, I-83 around Harrisburg forms the southern and eastern section of the Capital Beltway. This section of the Interstate is vital for local economy, as well as regional and national transportation. It provides access into and around Harrisburg and a crossing of the Susquehanna River. There are two basic problems with the current operation of this highway. The first is the routine daily congestion that is evident to the more than 100,000 motorists that use this facility each day, especially when dealing with crashes, disabled vehicles, or construction activities. The second problem is that the 40-year old roadway has deteriorated to the point where pothole repair and even paving overlays have had diminished effectiveness. Most of the I-83 corridor around Harrisburg needs to be replaced, along with improvements to add capacity and improve safety. The challenge was to develop a methodical plan to replace this 11-mile section of I-83 that considers financial availability, construction sequencing, and maintaining traffic flow on this highly traveled route.
The Approach
McCormick Taylor’s approach in developing the I-83 Master Plan, was to produce a brief, easily understood, and highly illustrated planning document that would provide PennDOT and local planning organizations a tool to plan and program projects within this section of I-83. Traffic studies, crash data analysis, and municipal coordination were conducted to illustrate the deficiencies of the transportation system and to establish the corridor-wide needs. The study process included an environmental inventory and public involvement, including several public meetings.
A number of transportation solutions were developed, including transit and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) options, and concluded that this 11-mile segment of I-83 would need to be reconstructed. The 11-mile corridor was divided into four sections. Design concepts were developed for each of the project sections, to serve as a starting point for subsequent engineering and environmental studies that precede construction. The I-83 Master Plan included a Project Deployment Plan, which outlined a sequence by which each completed section will result in improved system-wide operational characteristics.
The Result
The end result was the development of an effective transportation planning tool that provides a blueprint for the deployment of highway reconstruction projects within the 11-mile I-83 corridor. The document was well-received by PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration. The I-83 East Shore Section 1 Project will be the first to be studied, designed, and constructed, and preliminary engineering has been started on that section. The three remaining I-83 sections identified in the I-83 Master Plan are expected to progress sequentially through engineering design and construction, as funding becomes available. The I-83 Master Plan is available on the Internet at http://www.i-83beltway.com/.
