York County, Pa., Officials Discuss Building Bridge to Airport
By Teresa Ann Boeckel, York Daily Record, Pa.
Sep. 4–Ralph Sierra flies out of Harrisburg International Airport several times a year. He just came through the airport this weekend after attending a wedding in the Midwest.
It takes him about 40 minutes to make the trip from his home in East Manchester Township to the airport in Middletown, in Dauphin County. He uses the Pennsylvania Turnpike to cross the Susquehanna River to get there.
A new route being considered by transportation officials could shave off some of that travel time and make it easier for people such as Sierra to get to the airport.
It would involve a connector road between Interstate 83 and Route 441, which would include building a bridge across the river. It’s too early yet for any specific locations.
“I think something like that would be fantastic,” Sierra said. “Any alternate way to get to the airport I’m sure is going to be used.”
The idea for a connector road has been talked about periodically for decades, said Jeph Rebert, a senior transportation planner with the York County Planning Commission. It came up again recently as officials were discussing transportation needs through the year 2035.
An aviation committee has recommended a study to determine whether the project would be feasible. The study should be paid for through the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority, which oversees HIA.
Officials have no estimate of what a new road and bridge might cost. However, the new six-lane turnpike bridge over the river cost $84 million.
The concept will compete with billions of dollars worth of other needs during the next 20 years, said Donald Bubb, chief of transportation planning and traffic engineering with the county planning commission.
For example, 226 bridges should be replaced in the next 25 years, said Will Clark, a senior transportation planner with the county. Road maintenance and capacity also must be addressed.
A new corridor would be costly, Bubb said, and the question is this: Would it be worth it?
Timothy Tate, vice president at York Aviation, said the new corridor would benefit more than just the airport.
It would give travelers another way to reach interstates 78, 81 and 83 east of Harrisburg. That may relieve traffic congestion through the capital region.
The project, though, would be a major undertaking, and a new highway would be needed to get to the bridge, he said.
“At this point, it’s just a concept,” Tate said.
Sherri Snyder, vice president of Bailey Travel in York, said she didn’t think a new corridor would persuade travelers to pick HIA because they can already get to Middletown quickly.
“The main thing that is going to get them up there is lower [air] fares,” she said.
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