Pennsylvania starts tolling bridges to fund their renovation

On February 18, The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced the bridges that are expected to be tolled.

These bridges are considered through the Major Bridge P3 Initiative as places which require supervision and significant funds for reconstruction or replacement.

Each bridge’s project scope and traffic flow are being evaluated for inclusion in one or more project bundles.

PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said that initiative would help making much-needed improvements without compromising other projects. All funds received from the toll would go back to the bridge for paying for its construction and operation.

The list includes the following bridges:

   I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge Replacement Project (Berks County);

    I-79 Widening, Bridges and Bridgeville Interchange Reconfiguration (Allegheny County);

    I-80 Canoe Creek Bridges (Clarion County);

    I-80 Nescopeck Creek Bridges (Luzerne County);

    I-80 North Fork Bridges Project (Jefferson County);

    I-80 Over Lehigh River Bridge Project (Luzerne and Carbon counties);

    I-81 Susquehanna Project (Susquehanna County);

    I-83 South Bridge Project (Dauphin County); and

    I-95 Girard Point Bridge Improvement Project (Philadelphia County).

An alternative funding Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) confirmed that tolling of major bridges in need of replacement is an effective financial solution for the state’s transportation system and economy.

Tolling would be all electronic and collected by using E-ZPass or license plate billing. 

PennDOT also said that it would evaluate each project individually to maximize the benefits of the solution.