Public to weigh in on potential bridge tolls
Spans on 1-78, I-80 deemed due for reconstruction
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has scheduled public hearings on two bridges that are candidates for tolling.
Both hearings, held in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, are about the environmental assessments prepared for the I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge replacement project in Berks County and the I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project in Carbon and Luzerne counties.
Environmental assessments examine potential impacts to natural, social, economic and cultural resources.
The bridges have been targeted for tolling under the Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership Initiative, part of PennDOT’s Pathways Program. Pathways seeks potential alternative funding for transportation. Under the initiative, tolls collected would be used for the bridges’ construction, maintenance and operation.
Traffic would only be tolled westbound at Lenhartsville and eastbound on the I-80 bridge, PennDOT said in news releases about the hearings.
I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge
The bridge, which crosses Maiden Creek in Greenwich Township, is aging and does not meet current design standards, PennDOT says. The project involves replacing the existing bridge and widening it to accommodate acceleration and deceleration lanes and full inside and outside shoulders in each direction.
The in-person hearing will be held 3:30-7 p.m. May 19 at the Kempton Community Center, 83 Community Center Drive, Kempton.
All materials presented at the open house will be available online at www.penndot. pa.gov/i78Lenhartsville from May 4 to June 3.
Testimony will be received at the in-person hearings before an audience with a stenographer. Those providing testimony are asked to register in advance at www. penndot.pa.gov/i78Lenhartsville or by calling 610-973-5193. Oral testimony will be limited to five minutes per participant and the number of slots will depend on available time.
Testimony can be provided privately in a separate hearing room with a stenographer.
Written comments may be brought to the in-person hearing, completed at the event and deposited in a comment box, or mailed to: PennDOT District 5, Attn: I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge Replacement Project, 1002 Hamilton St., Allentown, PA 18101.
Comments may be emailed to i78Lenhartsville@pa.gov. The public may provide comments through the form available online at www.penndot.gov/i78Lenhartsville.
Comment forms will be provided at the in-person Public Hearing and at locations where the assessment is available for review.
The assessment will be online until 11:59 p.m. June 3, 2022 at www.penndot.pa.gov/i78Lenhartsville. Physical copies can be reviewed at:
Hamburg Public Library (35 N. 3rd St., Hamburg, PA 19526)
Kutztown Community Library (70 Bieber Alley, Kutztown, PA 19530)
Greenwich Township (775 Old Route 22, Lenhartsville, PA 19534)
PennDOT District 5 Office (1002 Hamilton St., Allentown, PA 18101)
FHWA Pa. Division (228 Walnut St., Room 508, Harrisburg, PA 17101)
Anyone requiring additional information or special assistance to participate can reach out via the project email at i78Lenhartsville@ pa.gov or hotline number, 610-973-5193, by May 13 to make arrangements. Translation services can be requested through i78Lenhartsville@pa.gov or hotline number, 610-973-5193.
I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project
The I-80 Over Lehigh River bridges, which cross over the Lehigh River, Lehigh Gorge State Park, Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad and River Road in Carbon and Luzerne Counties, are aging and reaching the end of their lifespan, PennDOT says. The project will address the deterioration of the bridges and provide safe connectivity for interstate travelers, commuters, commercial users, emergency services, tourists, and local residents.
The in-person hearing will be held 3:30-7 p.m. May 18 at Mountain Laurel Resort, 81 Treetops Circle, White Haven. Materials presented will be available online at www.penndot.gov/ i80LehighRiverBridge from May 3 to June 2.
Testimony will be received at the in-person hearings before an audience with a stenographer. Those providing testimony are asked to register in advance at www.penndot.gov/ i80LehighRiverBridge or by calling 570-793-2045. Oral testimony will be limited to five minutes per participant and the number of slots will depend on available time.
Individuals may provide testimony privately in a separate hearing room with a stenographer.
Written comments may be brought to the in-person hearing, completed at the event and deposited in a comment box, or mailed to: PennDOT District 5, Attn: I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project, 1002 Hamilton St., Allentown, PA 18101.
Comments may be emailed to i80LehighRiverBridge@pa.gov.
The public may provide comments through the form available online at www. penndot.gov/i80LehighRiverBridge.
Comment forms will be provided at the in-person Public Hearing and at locations where the EA is available for review.
The public can review a physical copy of the assessment at:
White Haven Area Community Library (121 Towanda St., White Haven, PA 18661)
East Side Borough (100 N. Sheaman Road, White Haven, PA 18661)
PennDOT District 5 Office (1002 Hamilton St., Allentown, PA 18101)
FHWA Pa. Division (228 Walnut St., Room 508, Harrisburg, PA 17101)
Anyone requiring additional information or special assistance to participate in the hearing can reach out via the project email at i80LehighRiverBridge@ pa.gov or hotline number, 570-793-2045, by May 13, 2022 to coordinate arrangements. Translation services can be requested through i80LehighRiverBridge@ pa.gov or 570-793-2045.