Bridge on I-80 will be demolished as part of interchange project. What to know about detours
A part of a bridge spanning state Route 26 on Interstate 80 eastbound in Centre County will be demolished later this week as part of the high-speed interchange project between Interstates 80 and 99, the state’s department of transportation announced, and some detours will be in place.
Half of the bridge at mile marker 160 on I-80 will be demolished on Thursday and Friday.
“This work is part of the project to enhance traffic safety by providing a direct connection between the two highways, making it unnecessary to travel along Route 26 to access them, relieving traffic congestion, and realigning service for local traffic,” PennDOT said in a release last week.
Detours will be in place for two days during the demolition.
Drivers on I-80 westbound heading for I-99 from Route 26 will continue to exit 158 (Milesburg), PennDOT said. I-99 southbound will not be accessible from the westbound lanes at exit 161 (Bellefonte) on Thursday and Friday. After exiting at Milesburg, traffic will take I-80 eastbound back to the 161/Bellefonte interchange to reconnect with I-99.
Motorists on I-99 northbound going to Route 26 northbound or I-80 westbound will take I-80 eastbound to exit 163 (Jacksonville/Howard), PennDOT said. Route 26 northbound and I-80 westbound will not be accessible from I-99 northbound for these two days.
Southbound drivers on Route 26 going to I-99 southbound will merge onto I-80 westbound at the 161/Bellefonte interchange and follow it to Milesburg. The ramps to I-80 eastbound will not be accessible during this work. After taking the Milesburg exit, drivers will take I-80 eastbound back to the 161/Bellefonte interchange to reconnect with I-99 southbound, PennDOT said.
The high-speed interchange is the next phase of a three-phase project to enhance traffic safety by creating a direct connection between the two highways. The $259 million project will be completed in 2030.
“Overall work on this project includes building the interchange, ten bridges, four retaining walls, five box culverts, seven sign structures, and three changeable message boards. It also includes constructing new and rebuilding existing roadways and ramps, drainage improvements, installing Intelligent Transportation Devices, guide rail and highway lighting, pavement marking, stream improvements, and miscellaneous construction,” the release states.
The first phase of the project was building the local access interchange at mile marker 163, providing direct access between Route 26 and I-80 for local traffic. The other phase will rebuild and wide Route 26. Excavation work for it began in November and active construction on it will begin in the 2025 construction season, PennDOT said.
“Completing all three phases will support the regional freight economy and improve the reliability of roadway travel throughout the region,” the release states.
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 5:11 AM.
