The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation held its open house forum on Wednesday about the proposed tolling to fund the new bridge on Interstate 80 over the Lehigh River.

The three-hour long session drew area residents and officials to the Split Rock Resort to look over information about the project, and speak with PennDOT officials.

The proposal is to toll eastbound travelers on Interstate 80 only, with the toll gantry located in East Side Borough. Tolls would be as low as $1 for cars and $6 for large trucks, to $2 for cars and $12 for the big trucks. Tolls would be in place for 30 years, until the loan is paid. The project is estimated to cost between $50 million and $52 million.

PennDOT has listened to locals during an official session held here earlier this year. Improvements to the traffic diversion route are now offered on Route 940 through East Side and White Haven, including fixing the retaining wall along the Lehigh River, improving guide rails and repaving; improving the Route 940 and 437 intersection; repairing the base and road surface on Berwick Street/Route 940 in White Haven, and more.

A study for Route 940 in this section is promised after the project is completed to compare traffic forecasts to actual use. Any new challenges would then be addressed.

Most of the locals who attended were opposed to having tolls for the bridge. Many were concerned about the traffic that would choose to take local roads to avoid the tolls.

Construction on the bridge is projected to get underway in 2023 at the earliest. Tolls, if they end up being approved to be used, would begin at that time.

Construction would start with a new and wider eastbound span, just south of the existing bridges. Once that span is completed and opened, westbound traffic will be diverted to the old eastbound bridge, and the north-most span would then be demolished, after which a new span would be constructed in its place.

No homes or businesses are scheduled to be taken for this project.

Director appointed