The Harrisburg Southern Gateway Project represents a relatively new approach to highway improvement. It isn't just about getting traffic from point A to point B as quickly as possible. So, in the project discussion you'll hear phrases like traffic calming, cityscape, historic resources, economic impact, and visual cues. In particular, the project recognizes the interrelationship of transportation with use of the land.
The project focuses on the area of Harrisburg that lies between the 2nd Street interchange of Interstate 83 to the south, Walnut Street to the north, the Susquehanna River to the west, and the Amtrak railroad lines to the east. Now, Front and 2nd streets offer the only access and egress, respectively, to the area from I-83.
Click here to enlargeWhile a goal is to reduce vehicle congestion,
the study also pays attention to current and future land use. That means
scrutinizing how changes might affect economic development and looking at
how an area of the City actually functions, or can function, for a wide variety
of users.
Click here to enlargeSome of the questions addressed are how to improve vehicle access
in an area that now has only one entry and egress point, while also opening
land for development or for a higher use. At issue is how to make a safer and more
pedestrian-friendly environment, while creating an improved
gateway to the City.
Launched in 2000, the study is being funded by the Federal
Highway Administration, PennDOT and the City of Harrisburg. It is a broader
effort that grew out of an interest in evaluating the extension of South
3rd Street 
Click here to enlargeto relieve traffic congestion. That street now
terminates at a rail crossing and cuts off the City's traffic grid pattern.
The Southern Gateway project involves a lot of complicated professional and engineering input and analysis for everything from environmental resources to traffic simulations and potential designs. But, public input also is essential, and it is being gathered throughout the study phases.
Click here to enlargeThe Southern Gateway project is being coordinated with other studies, such
as the Corridor One regional rail system and I-83 Master Plan efforts.
The City of Harrisburg's Bureau of Engineering is overseeing the project.
Click here to enlargeThe project team selected through a competitive process,
is: