Bridge Commission Begins I-78 Repairs

If the stretch of Interstate 78 near Easton was a person, it would have reached the legal drinking age two years ago.

It opened in 1989, and hasn't had a major upgrade since, according to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, which oversees that part of the highway.

Now, that upgrade is here, in the form of a $17 million repair project expected to last until May 2013.

While the work is going on, the DRJTBC has set up three ways for the public to keep on top of the project, and to offer its input.

• You can call in at 855-277-8282.
• Find the project online.
• Follow them on Twitter at @I78Project.

According to the commission, the project will include:

• Rehabilitation of existing concrete pavements of the both the eastbound and westbound roadways;
• Paving and miscellaneous improvements to access roadway and parking facilities for the Pennsylvania Welcome Center adjacent to the Commission's westbound toll plaza in Williams Township;
• Improvements to bridge decks, joints and approach slabs, including the main river I-78 Toll Bridge - which consists of two separate parallel structures -- and 11 secondary bridge structures (overpasses and underpasses) east and west along I-78;
• Stabilization work on a rock outcropping along eastbound I-78 where a rock slide occurred in April 2011.

Although lanes are expected to close during the work, the commission says it will "compel the contractor to maintain at least two lanes of travel in each direction during hours of peak demand."