Project Status
Step 2 of 4
Design
Next Step: Construction
Public Outreach
Open House
Project display boards will be available for viewing and project staff will be on hand to answer questions. There will be no formal presentation. Public comments can be made during the open house or online though Monday, September 7.
Date: August 17, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Harrisburg City Government Center, 10 N. 2nd Street, Harrisburg PA
Plans Display
Physical copies of the plans display will be available for viewing at Harrisburg City Government Center (10 N. 2nd Street, Harrisburg PA) through September 7, 2026.
Public Comment Period
The public comment period, where the community is encouraged to respond with questions and concerns will be from August 7, 2026 through September 7, 2026.
Project Overview
Counties: Cumberland and Dauphin
Municipalities: Wormleysburg Borough, Lemoyne Borough, & Harrisburg City
State Route: Route 1010 (Western Segment), Route 3012 (Eastern Segment)
Local Name: Market Street
Project Type: Bridge Restoration Project
MPMS Number: 93176 (Western Segment), 93177 (Eastern Segment)
Proposed Construction Start: 2027
Proposed Construction End: 2034
Last Updated: August 2026
The Market Street Bridges, designated as State Route (SR) 3012 in Dauphin County and SR 1010 in Cumberland County, run over the east and west channels of the Susquehanna River, connecting the communities of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, and Wormleysburg Borough/Lemoyne Borough, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. PennDOT has commenced design work on the Market Street Bridge Project that includes rehabilitation of the bridges. Market Street is a primary commuter route and provides a connection over both the east and west channels of the Susquehanna River to City Island. Construction is anticipated to start as early as 2027 based on current programmed funding.
Contact Information
Pharon Bertsch, P.E.
Senior Project Manager
717-705-6209
pbertsch@pa.gov
Dave Thompson
Media Contact
717-418-5018
dmthompson@pa.gov
Mike Crochunis
Media Contact
717-418-5017
mcrochunis@pa.gov
Additional Project Information
Existing Bridges
The western bridge is a 16-span adjacent concrete box beam bridge that connects Lemoyne and Wormleysburg to City Island over the west channel of the Susquehanna River. The eastern bridge is a 16-span closed spandrel arch bridge that connects City Island to the City of Harrisburg over the eastern channel of the Susquehanna River. Currently, the eastern bridge provides four 10-foot lanes and two 5-foot 9-inch sidewalks with no shoulders on either side, while the western bridge provides four 10-foot lanes and two 4-foot 7-inch sidewalks with no shoulders on either side.
Both bridges currently carry state Bike Route J. Though bicyclists have access to the roadway, there are no dedicated bike lane or shared lane signs on the roadway notifying motorists to share the road. Bicyclists also use the existing sidewalks.
Sidewalks have deteriorated on the eastern bridge. In addition, metal plates for the hatches used to access the interior of the bridge are located within the existing sidewalks. Many of these hatches are not accessible for interior bridge inspection, and damaged hatches cause tripping hazards on the sidewalks. On the western bridge, sidewalk panels exhibit cracking and spalls, and the downstream sidewalk is currently closed due to underlying beam conditions.
Project Purpose
The purpose of the project is to maintain safe and efficient multimodal connectivity across the Susquehanna River between Harrisburg and the West Shore communities, as well as access to City Island and its amenities. The eastern bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; therefore, the project aims to maintain the bridge's historic integrity.
Project Scope
The scope of work for the bridge improvements includes the rehabilitation of the historic arch and replacement of the deck and upstream sidewalk on the 16-span eastern bridge as well as the construction of a new superstructure (deck and beams) on the 16-span western bridge.
Both bridges will maintain four 10-foot lanes, similar to current conditions. The work to the eastern bridge will install a new 6-foot 9-inch upstream sidewalk that is 1-foot wider than the existing with no metal hatches resulting in a smoother surface. Additionally,1-foot 9-inch upstream and downstream shoulders will be added. For the western bridge, one 7-foot upstream sidewalk that is 2-foot 5-inches wider than the existing along with 2-foot shoulders, both upstream and downstream, will be constructed. These improvements will provide additional space for bicyclists and a buffer area between vehicles and pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Additional bicycle signage (Bicycles Allowed Use of Full Lane) and shared lane use markings in the right lane in each direction will also be added from the west shore to the east shore. Pavement Markings and Signage will be included at both adjacent signalized intersections on the west shore and east shore.
The Lemoyne Bottleneck Project is ongoing to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety on Market Street on the western shore. Coordination will occur between the two projects to ensure the improvements connect seamlessly.
Utility Bridge with Bicycle and Pedestrian Access
A separate bridge is proposed downstream to carry all utilities currently under the sidewalks on the Market Street Bridges. Utilities include gas transmission lines, multiple fiber optic telecommunications lines, and a sewer line. The utility bridge provides several benefits to the project, including:
- Can be constructed without long-term traffic control, i.e., lane reductions or detours.
- Reduces overall construction duration by four to five years because no temporary utility relocations are required.
- Provides a safer commuting experience for bike/ped users who may be apprehensive about the traffic on the Market Street Bridge sidewalks.
- Limits temporary outages for all utilities because there will only be one outage for connecting new lines to existing lines.
- Eliminates future traffic disruptions by utility companies working on their facilities on the Market Street Bridges.
- Quicker access for emergency services to respond to incidents.
- During construction, provides a viable alternative to work zones for bike/ped safety.
Environmental
The eastern Market Street Bridge, constructed in 1928, is an excellent example of a long-span monumental urban bridge. The crossing where the current bridge stands has historically been the western gateway to the City of Harrisburg. The eastern bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The bridge is 16-spans and 1,415 feet in length, from Front Street in the City of Harrisburg to City Island. The bridge is a concrete arch bridge with a stone facing. The stone was cut to create the arch shape. The eastern entrance to the Market Street Bridge is notable due to the red sandstone Doric columns on either side, which were taken from the site of the original State Capitol. The State Capitol burned in 1897. The columns were reused for the bridge entrance and have commemorative plaques on all four sides at the base.
Section 4(f) properties are publicly owned parks, recreational areas, and wildlife/waterfowl refuges; parts of public multi-use properties that provide park/recreational and wildlife/waterfowl refuge; and historic properties (U.S. DOT Act 1966). Within the Market Street Bridge project vicinity, several properties qualify as Section 4(f) resources, such as:
- Harrisburg Historic District (Historic)
- Harrisburg City Parks 7 Parkway Plan (Historic)
- Market Street Bridge East (Historic)
- Pennsylvania RR Enola Low Grade freight/Cumberland Valley RR (Historic)
- River Front Park (Recreation)
- City Island (Recreation)
- Capital Area Greenbelt (Recreation)
- Susquehanna River PA Water Trail/National Recreation Water Trail (Recreation)
These resources will be temporarily used (de minimis use) during construction due to limited access points to the bridges. None will be adversely affected, and all will be restored once construction is completed.
Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF) were used in the development of recreational amenities on City Island. Resources receiving funds through LWCF are afforded protection under the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and are Section 6(f) resources. Coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the City of Harrisburg has occurred. Temporary use is permitted by PennDOT for rehabilitation of the Market Street Bridge. Due to the need for temporary use of portions of the parking lots, PennDOT is proposing to resurface portions of the existing parking lots in order to establish a more efficient parking stall layout that will increase the overall number of available parking spots on the island both during and after construction is complete.
Part of this process consists of evaluating the project for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which includes coordination with agencies, public involvement, and other outreach activities.
Utilities
Multiple utilities are attached to the existing bridges and are located under both sidewalks. Utilities include telecommunications, gas, sewer, and electric. Permanent relocation of all utilities to a separate utility bridge is planned to reduce construction time and remove access constraints currently present via metal hatches on the existing bridges.
Right-of-Way
Temporary and permanent right-of-way acquisitions will be needed on the approaches to the bridges on the west and east shores as well as on City Island to allow construction of the proposed bridge rehabilitation. Portions of the parking lots on City Island will be needed for the contractor to stage materials and equipment and gain access to river causeways.
Maintenance and Protection of Traffic
Maintenance and protection of traffic (MPT) during construction will be implemented through a phased construction sequence intended to maintain vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and emergency service traffic to the maximum extent practical while allowing construction activities to progress along the Market Street bridge., Two-way traffic will be maintained from one shore to City Island during construction and one-way traffic will be maintained from shore to shore. Access to City Island from each shore will be provided during construction. Eastbound and Westbound vehicular traffic will be shifted between available portions of the bridge and approaches depending on the active work area, as describe in the construction phases below:
- Phases 1A & 1B- Construct the utility bridge and relocate all utilities from the Market Street Bridges to the new utility bridge. Existing travel lanes will be maintained except for short-term lane closures to accommodate a small portion of construction on City Island and utility reconnections.
- Phase 2A, 2B, and 2C - Construct the eastbound (downstream) side of the bridges. One westbound lane will be maintained on the upstream side with all eastbound traffic detoured via Harvey Taylor Bridge. Access to City Island from each shore will be maintained.
- Phase 3A, 3B & 3C - Construct the westbound (upstream) side of the bridges. One eastbound lane will be maintained on the newly constructed downstream side with all westbound traffic detoured via Harvey Taylor Bridge. Access to City Island from each shore will be maintained.
- Phase 4A - Construct full depth pavement across westbound lanes adjacent to the west shore intersection, east shore intersection, and across City Island. One eastbound lane will be maintained on the newly constructed downstream side with all westbound traffic detoured via Harvey Taylor Bridge. Access to City Island from the west shore will be maintained.
- Phase 4B - Construct full depth pavement across eastbound lanes adjacent to the west shore intersection, east shore intersection, and across City Island. One westbound lane will be maintained on the newly constructed upstream side with all eastbound traffic detoured via Harvey Taylor Bridge. Access to City Island from the east shore will be maintained.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Access: Throughout the entire duration of construction, bike/ped access across the river or to/from City Island will be provided. The utility bridge will be constructed first. The existing upstream sidewalk will remain open to provide passage as it does today. The Utility Bridge will open for use during Phase 3. Bus stops and parking lots on City Island will remain open and accessible during all phases of construction.
Boater Access Under the Bridge: Construction of the bridges will require half-width causeways in each channel for contractor access (half of the eastern and western channels will always be open). An Aids to Navigation Plan (ATON) was approved by the PA Fish and Boat Commission. Boater access will be maintained in areas not occupied by causeways. Access will be maintained on each channel of the river for the duration of construction.
Regional Project Coordination
Several projects, including the Lemoyne Bottleneck Project to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety on Market Street on the western shore, and the I-83 South Bridge over the Susquehanna River Replacement Project, are also in the design phase. The Market Street design team will be coordinating with the other design teams during the duration of the Market Street Bridge Project. The timing of construction for each project will continue to be coordinated to determine the most appropriate overall construction schedule. Project details for other projects will be disseminated by those design teams through the PennDOT District 8 website.
Schedule and Cost
The project is currently in the final design phase, and construction is anticipated to begin in 2027. Currently, the estimated construction cost is $149 million.
Frequently Asked Questions
Construction of a new Utility Bridge structure was deemed a cost-effective solution ($14 Million to construct) to relocate all utilities from the current Market Street Bridge to a new utility structure directly downstream of Market Street Bridge during Phases 1A and 1B (prior to any lane closures) to avoid significant negative impacts to the construction schedule. Without moving utilities, it was estimated that 4-6 years of traffic impacts would be added to the project. Advantages include minimizing traffic interruptions, reducing construction duration, limiting utility disruptions, and providing a separate 14ft width bicycle and pedestrian path on the Utility Bridge. Another advantage of adding this new path is that the upstream sidewalks of the Market Street Bridges (East and West) were made larger, and the downstream sidewalks could be removed from the Market Street bridges to allow some shoulders on these structures.
Yes, based on Stakeholder input, aesthetic treatments of the utility bridge were added – as shown in the updated renderings. Much effort and thought were put into architectural treatments and colors of the piers, steel girders, railings, and lighting fixtures in order to make the new Utility Bridge fit within the context of the existing east and west Market Street Bridges.
Design criteria for this bridge length, traffic volumes, and speed limit do not require barrier-separated sidewalks. Also, due to the nature of the historic eastern bridge, placing a barrier would take away from available upstream sidewalk width – which is already limited. For the western bridge, adding a barrier between motorists and the upstream sidewalk would require additional substructure widening. It was also decided to keep the bridge, roadway, and sidewalk widths consistent between the east and west shores. Additionally, with the Utility Bridge pedestrian and bicycle path, there is an area now that is totally separated from traffic.
Yes, connections to and from the bridges at the adjacent traffic signals in Harrisburg and Wormleysburg will be included in the project. Additionally, the new Utility Bridge path will be connected to the upper trail of the Harrisburg Greenbelt on the east end. Also, the new Utility Bridge path will be connected to the improvements constructed by the Lemoyne Bottleneck Project on the west end in the final condition.
Yes, any potential environmental impacts of the project, including the Utility Bridge, are being evaluated and will be minimized or mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
Yes, safer multimodal connections are now included at the City Island Ramps to better restrict left-turns from vehicles and place pedestrians and bicycles in more visible locations when crossing both access ramps. Additionally, the upstream bus pull-off on City Island was improved and a downstream bus pull-off was added during final design. These are significant safety enhancements to the corridor.
Yes, the department is coordinating between these three projects to account for construction timing and potential impacts.
Although the initial intention was to open the Utility Bridge to pedestrians and bicycles after it is constructed in Phase 1B, we realized that large cranes used by the contractor from the downstream causeway will have to reach over the Utility Bridge during Phases 2A, 2B, and 2C, so it was deemed unsafe to open the pedestrian/bicycle path until these Phases are completed.
Past Public Outreach
A virtual plans display and public comment period was held from July 7, 2023 to August 7, 2023. Public open houses were held July 12, 2023 in Wormleysburg and August 1, 2023 in Harrisburg.
Accessibility
The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation or interpretation services, have special needs, or have concerns that require individual attention, please contact the Project Manager listed above.
Title VI
Pursuant to the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the PennDOT, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891.