PennDOT to reconfigure merge of westbound I-78 into southbound I-81

PennDOT will be reconfiguring the merge of westbound I-78 into southbound I-81 in a project that will take place starting Wednesday evening, July 13, with completion expected by Thursday morning.

The new configuration will merge traffic on westbound I-78 into a single lane sooner than the existing lane merge.

PennDOT said that the new traffic configuration will require westbound I-78 traffic to merge into a single lane prior to the current merge point. Currently, two lanes of westbound I-78 merge into one lane as I-78 traffic reaches southbound I-81, followed by a second merge of the single westbound I-78 lane onto outbound I-81.

PennDOT asked motorists to be alert for the new traffic patterns.

“There will be advance warning signs and pavement markings on westbound I-78 directing traffic to merge right,” said PennDOT in a release. “The same configuration of signs and pavement markings will be located on southbound I-81 for the final merge of traffic from the single lane of westbound I-78 onto southbound I-81.”

PennDOT said that the project is part of an overall $5.5 million I-78 pavement preservation effort in Dauphin and Lebanon counties, including diamond grinding, concrete patching, spall repair, signing, pavement markings, and shoulder rumble strips. J.D. Eckman of Chester County is the prime contractor on the project.