If you’re driving in and around Harrisburg this weekend, give yourself some extra time. A portion of a major highway will be closed for bridge-repair work.
The John Harris Memorial (South) Bridge carrying northbound Interstate 83 over the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg will be closed from about 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reminded motorists today.
The northbound lanes will be closed between Exit 41 to Lemoyne and Camp Hill and Exit 43 to 2nd Street.
According to PennDOT, this closure includes the northbound I-83 Exit 41B ramp to Lemoyne and the Lemoyne/Lowther Street on-ramp to northbound I-83. Right turns from the eastbound Route 581 ramp 6C onto eastbound Lowther Street will be restricted, though left turns and straight movements from the ramp will be permitted.
The closure will allow the district’s bridge maintenance contractor, J.D. Eckman Inc., of Atglen, to perform permanent repairs to an expansion dam on the bridge. This will allow the bridge deck to expand and contract with temperature changes and traffic movement while preventing water from reaching and damaging the bridge elements below. A temporary repair was made earlier this year while this permanent repair was being designed.
Additional repairs are planned in both directions on the bridge in the winter and spring.
Northbound I-83 traffic will detour onto westbound Route 581, to northbound Interstate 81 and then to southbound Interstate 83.
Also, a detour will be in place for the Lowther Street ramp traffic using Lowther Street, the southbound I-83 on-ramp at South 10th Street to Exit 40B (New Cumberland), eastbound on Carlisle Road, and Interstate 83 northbound. A detour will be in place for eastbound Route 581 traffic using Exit 6B (I-83/York) to Exit 40B (New Cumberland), eastbound on Carlisle Road, and Interstate 83 northbound.
While work is underway, I-83 may see lane restrictions or other traffic controls at 3rd Street and Lowther Street and other intersections along the detour routes.
Should inclement weather delay this weekend’s work, it will be rescheduled for Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.
Stay up to date on traffic conditions with 511PA.com.