Public input sought on plans to toll I-78 Lenhartsville bridge

Should the I-78 bridge in Lenhartsville be tolled? 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is seeking public input on its plans to replace the Lenhartsville Bridge, including the option of adding tolling to the bridge to help pay for its reconstruction. 

 The I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge Replacement Project is a candidate for bridge tolling through the Major Bridge Public-Private Partnership (MBP3) Initiative, as part of the PennDOT Pathways Program. The Pathways program seeks to identify potential alternative funding solutions for transportation in the state.  

Under the initiative, tolls collected would be used for the replacement bridges’ construction, maintenance and operation. 

Because of the community input PennDOT has already received, as well as continued project analysis, PennDOT said that it is only looking to pursue westbound tolling at this bridge. 

 The in-person Public Hearing will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 19 at the Kempton Community Center at 83 Community Center Dr. 

An open house display on the project will begin at 3:30 p.m. with public testimony starting at 4:30 p.m. All materials that will be presented during the open house, including a project overview, maps, low-income tolling details, diversion route improvements and EA documents, will be available online from May 4 to June 3, 2022. 

 The I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge, which crosses Maiden Creek in Greenwich Township, is aging and does not meet current design standards according to PennDOT.  

The proposed project involves replacing the existing bridge to address the poor structural condition, and to widen it to accommodate acceleration and deceleration lanes and full inside and outside shoulders in each direction.