PennDOT approves reconstruction of I-81 road project in Wilkes-Barre

Subscribe to our newsletter and get the latest news and business opportunities in your inbox

The PennDOT Public-Private Transportation Partnerships (P3) Board in the USA has approved a proposed P3 project to reconstruct a 4.5-mile section of I-81 near Wilkes-Barre. The P3 Board originally approved the project in late 2018 as a bundling of 15 bridge replacements along I-80 and I-81 in Luzerne County. The PennDOT P3 Office reassessed the needs of the corridor and developed a proposal that included eight of the original 15 bridges while also addressing the needs of the corridor as a whole.

The project includes widening the Interstate to three lanes in both directions between Exit 164 to Exit 168, realigning 2.5 miles of I-81 southbound and replacing 8 bridges, as well as other related improvements. Safety and mobility improvements include eliminating a left-hand exit on I-81 northbound (Route 309) and addressing a substandard weave distance between SR 0029 and SR 0309 on I-81 northbound.

The 4.5-mile segment is located within PennDOT District 4-0; a six-county district that currently maintains a transportation network of 3,932 miles of roadways and 2,090 bridges. Major roadways in the district include Interstates 80 and 81, which remain relatively unchanged from their original construction in the 1960s. These major corridors and bridges have traffic volumes ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 vehicles daily, which are projected to increase with the development of the region.

An increase in demand by road users coupled with an increase in the age of the infrastructure has made it challenging for PennDOT to stay ahead of the needs of the traveling public. Delivering this reconstructed corridor through P3 delivery will allow PennDOT to address these issues and needs in a faster timeframe than traditional delivery.

In July 2012, the Public and Private Partnerships for Transportation Act was signed into law, which authorized P3 projects in Pennsylvania. This law allows PennDOT and other state agencies, transportation authorities and commissions to partner with private companies to participate in delivering, maintaining and financing transportation-related projects.

List of the country updates

Country updates

  • December 10, 2019

    VCCS to explore student housing near Virginia’s community college campuses

    Virginia's community college has been commuter college since 1960 with no student housing facility on campus. In the latest meeting of  Virginia Community Colleges (VCCS) State Board, the bo...

    Read more
  • December 10, 2019

    Delay in Capital Beltway and I-270 Corridor project

    The Board of Public Works was asked to postpone the action on the I-495 (Capital Beltway) and I-270 widening projects by sixty-nine members of the House of Delegates. The Board of Public Works is...

    Read more
  • December 05, 2019

    Stamford public schools to redevelop six schools

    Stamford public schools (SPS) in the USA are planning for the redevelopment of six school campuses in the Stamford school district in Connecticut. The schools involved in the project are Hart Mag...

    Read more
  • December 04, 2019

    Operation starts for I-395 express lanes project in Virginia

    Virginia department of transportation (VDOT) in USA announced opening of new Interstate 395 Express Lanes on November 17, 2019. The project extends the Express Lanes by eight miles for seamless connec...

    Read more
  • December 04, 2019

    Belle Chasse Bridge and Tunnel Replacement PPP Project in Louisiana is likely to lose a grant

    Belle Chasse Bridge and Tunnel Replacement PPP Project in Louisiana is likely to lose a USD 45 million federal grant for a bridge and tunnel replacement in Plaquemines Parish. Earlier this year in Oc...

    Read more

Share this update