Tolling of the Interstate 83 bridge over the Susquehanna River — a proposal to pay for its replacement and maintenance — prompted questions and criticism of the state Department of Transportation during a telephone town hall on Tuesday night.
PennDOT held an hourlong session as part of its public meeting on the planned replacement of the aging structure. About 100 people attended. The new bridge would be wider, with five lanes in each direction. The project, which includes work in the Lemoyne area, is estimated to cost $500 million to $650 million.
With declining revenues, which mostly come from gas taxes, PennDOT has proposed a public-private partnership for replacing, operating and maintaining the structure over a 25-year period. Drivers would pay a toll — likely $1 or $2 — to cross the bridge in each direction. About 125,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily.