Interstate 83

Interstate 83 Maryland
Interstate 83 Pennsylvania

Overview

Interstate 83 comprises an older freeway running north from Baltimore, Maryland to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I-83 within the city of Baltimore is locally maintained, while the route throughout Baltimore County is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA).

Within Pennsylvania, I-83 leads north to York, where it takes an old bypass of U.S. 111 to the east. The freeway continues from there through hilly areas east of the Conewago Mountains to Cumberland County and the Harrisburg area. Turning east, I-83 spans the Susquehanna River to the south of Downtown Harrisburg. It turns north again at the Eisenhower Interchange to combine with U.S. 322 north to Progress, Colonial Park and Interstate 81.

I-83 Capital Beltway Project

A major overhaul and upgrades of Interstate 83 through Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is underway as part of the I-83 Capital Beltway Project. Separated into four sections, construction addresses aging pavement, dated interchange design and capacity issues.

Work completed includes the I-83/PA 581 Interchange Bottleneck Safety Project, which addressed safety issues and congestion at the York Split exchange between the two freeways. A second lane was added for the I-83 mainline movement and weaving traffic patterns were addressed with ramp modifications and replacements. This interim improvement was completed in Summer 2015; long term plans call for constructing a systems interchange in place of the current trumpet at the York Split.

I-83 East Shore Section 1 extends northward the interchange with Union Deposit Road to Interstate 81. Completed in May 2019, Contract 1 replaced overpasses for U.S. 22 (Jonestown Road, Elmerton Avenue and Union Deposit Road. Work also made further modifications to the exchange with U.S. 22 and sidewalk improvements along Jonestown Road. Bids for Contract 2 were opened in June 2018, with a Notice to Proceed given in July 2018. Work through 2022 widened Interstate 83 to six overall lanes plus auxiliary lanes, built four mainline bridges and added noise walls.

I-83 East Shore Section 2 addresses the dated Eisenhower Interchange and expands the freeway between the Susquehanna River and Paxtang. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) document for the Environmental Assessment for Section 2 on June 10, 2020. Construction could have began in 2023, however an update in March 2023 outlined partitioning the project into five construction contracts, with right-of-way acquisition beginning later in 2023. Road work could now start by 2026.

I-83 East Shore Section 3 widens Interstate 83 east from the Susquehanna River toward 29th Street with additional travel lanes and collector distributor roadways. Right of way acquisition started in February 2020, followed by Environmental Site Assessment field work in March 2020. Bids for construction were scheduled for Summer 2023, with construction commencing in Fall 2023.

Parallel U.S. Routes

Interstate 83 replaced U.S. 111 from Baltimore north to Harrisburg.

History

Interstate 83 began as a short section of freeway along U.S. 111 in 1950. By 1960, most of the freeway for U.S. 111 in Pennsylvania was completed, just in time to be redesignated as Interstate 83. U.S. 111 was retired in 1963, and I-83 was fully completed by 1971.2

Within Maryland, Interstate 83 also began as a freeway for U.S. 111, with initial completion by 1955. South of the Baltimore Beltway, I-83 opened from Interstate 695 to Guilford Avenue by 1963, southward to Monument Street in the 1970s, and to Pleasant Street by 1983. The southernmost portion of I-83 in Baltimore opened by 1990.3

The southern end of I-83 was previously planned to link with Interstate 95 in Baltimore. An early proposal took I-83 to a conclusion at I-95 within the Fells Point community. These alignments were later changed to move I-95 south to the Fort McHenry Tunnel and extend I-83 east through Canton. Stub ramps were built at the I-95 interchange with Boston and O’Donnell Streets for I-83. However as was the case with many Baltimore freeway plans, community opposition canceled this portion of I-83.

I-83 north at Business Loop I-83 - York, PA

Northbound I-83 at the split with Business Loop I-83 into York, Pennsylvania. 06/21/12

The interchange between Interstate 83 and Business Loop I-83 was reconstructed as part of a $58 million project between 2003 and December 6, 2006 to provide full movements between the two expressways and eliminate the left exit.1

Route Information

  • North End – Colonial Park, PA

  • South End – Baltimore, MD

  • Branch Routes – 1

  • Total Mileage – 85.03

Mileage

Maryland – 34.50

  • Cities – Baltimore

  • Junctions – I-695

Pennsylvania – 50.53

  • Cities – York, Harrisburg

  • Junctions – I-76 PA Turnpike I-283 I-81

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-83 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: Baltimore County, Maryland Traffic Volume Map 2018 AADT (MDOT)
Baltimore City – Baltimore County, Maryland Traffic Volume Map 2016 AADT (MDOT)

Source: Pennsylvania Traffic Volume Maps 2017 (Penndot)

Baltimore, MD - 1976
Baltimore, Maryland – 1976 Maryland Official Highway Map

The portion of Interstate 83 shown as proposed on the 1976 Maryland Map was never built. Interstate 70 east of Cooks Lane and the western leg of I-170 were equally unconstructed.

Harrisburg, PA - 1971
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – 1971

Interstate 83 was completed in 1971, but the north end defaulted traffic onto Interstate 81 north until 1976, when I-81 was completed southward to Front Street and the George N. Wade Bridge across the Susquehanna River.5

Photo Guides

North End I-81 US 322 – Colonial Park, Pennsylvania

I-83 North US 322 West at I-81

I-83/US 322 north at US 22 - Colonial Park, PA

Interstate 83 northbound entered a full cloverleaf interchange (Exits 50A/B) with U.S. 22 (Jonestown Road) one mile south of I-81. Started in June 2016, the I-83 East Shore Section 1 project rebuilt this exchange into a parclo interchange, replaced the Jonestown Road overpass, and prepared the roadway for expansion to eight overall lanes. 06/20/12

I-83/US 322 north at I-81 - Colonial Park, PA

I-83 expanded to three northbound lanes from U.S. 22 to Exit 51 for Interstate 81. Overheads pictured here were mounted on the Elmerton Avenue overpass. Contract 1 work for the I-83 East Shore Section 1 project replaced this span to accommodate widening in Contract 2. Expansion work runs from late 2018 to late 2021. 06/20/12

I-83/US 322 north at I-81 - Colonial Park, PA

Crossing over Valley Road, I-83 north / U.S. 322 west reach the three-wye interchange (Exit 51) with Interstate 81. U.S. 322 joins I-81 south for 2.25 miles, where it combines with U.S. 22 on a freeway extending north to Duncannon and Lewistown. 06/20/12

I-83/US 322 north at I-81 - Colonial Park, PA

Traffic partitions into high speed ramps for Interstate 81 north to I-78 east for Allentown, and Wilkes-Barre and I-81 south across north Harrisburg to I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) at Carlisle. 06/20/12

I-81 North US 322 East at I-83

I-81/US 322 east at I-83 - Susquehanna Twp, PA

U.S. 322 accompanies Interstate 81 north from a systems interchange with U.S. 22 near the Uptown neighborhood of Harrisburg. The freeway meets Progress Avenue and I-83 south over the succeeding 1.5 miles. 06/20/12

I-81/US 322 east at I-83 - Susquehanna Twp, PA

The auxiliary lane from U.S. 322 east drops at Exit 69. I-81/U.S. 322 continue another mile to the three-wye interchange with Interstate 83 (Harrisburg Beltway) south. 06/20/12

I-81/US 322 east at I-83 - Susquehanna Twp, PA

I-83 and U.S. 322 combine southward from I-81 between the Progress and Colonial Park communities to the Eisenhower Interchange with I-283 at Lawnton. U.S. 322 turns east there to Hershey. 06/20/12

I-81/US 322 east at I-83 - Susquehanna Twp, PA

Two lanes separate for both I-81 north to I-78 near Jonestown and I-83 south to Downtown Harrisburg and Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) via I-283 / PA 283 at Middletown. 06/20/12

I-81 North US 322 East at I-83

I-81 south 1.5 miles from I-83/US 322 in Lower Paxton Twp, Pennsylvania.

Interstate 81 turns southwest ahead of I-83/U.S. 322 in Lower Paxton Township. 08/22/21

I-83 begins from I-81 south in one mile.

Left Exit 70 departs I-81 south in one mile for I-83 south to York and U.S. 322 east to Hummelstown. 08/22/21

I-81 combines with US 322 west from I-83 to Harrisburg, PA.

I-81 across north Harrisburg and I-83 south of Downtown Harrisburg are part of the Capital Beltway along with PA 581 west from Camp Hill. 08/22/21

I-81 south at the three-wye interchange (Exit 70) with I-83 south and US 322.

I-83 heads south from I-81 to I-283 east of Paxtang. I-81 continues west from US 322 to Carlisle near I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). 08/22/21

South End – Fayette and President Streets – Baltimore, Maryland

I-83 South

I-83 south at Guilford Av - Baltimore, MD

Interstate 83 navigates through an S-curve below grade and turns south along side the Fallsway to Exit 3 at the Chase Street overpass. An expressway ends two mile sign was formerly posted here. 06/27/10

I-83 south at Fayette St - Baltimore, MD

Anchored by the Baltimore World Trade Center,4 the Downtown Baltimore skyline appears along the elevated lanes of I-83 southbound ahead of the Orleans Street viaduct (U.S. 40). Exit 2 lowers from the left side of the Interstate 83 to Pleasant Street at Holliday Street south. 06/27/10

I-83 south at Fayette St - Baltimore, MD

Interstate 83 shifts southeast on the final 0.3 miles to President Street at Fayette Street. The freeway was originally planned to turn eastward from roughly this location and continue to Interstate 95. 06/27/10

I-83 south at Fayette St - Baltimore, MD

The speed limit reduces to 35 miles per hour above N Gay Street. Photo by Tim Reichard (09/14/02).

I-83 south at Fayette St - Baltimore, MD

Posted along the viaduct above Holliday Street, this was the last confirming marker for Interstate 83 south. The state named shield was removed after July 2018. 06/27/10

I-83 south at Fayette St - Baltimore, MD

Exit 1 comprises a right turn from the end of I-83 to Fayette Street. Baltimore City Hall lies two blocks to the west. Photo by Tim Reichard (09/14/02).

I-83 south at Fayette St - Baltimore, MD

President Street, a four to six lane urban boulevard, extends south from the Jones Falls Expressway 0.6 miles from Fayette Street to Alceanna Street at Fells Point. 06/27/10

President Street – North at I-83

President St north at Baltimore St - Baltimore, MD

President Street northbound at Baltimore Street, one block south of the Jones Falls Expressway. Baltimore Phoenix Shot Tower rises from the ensuing block to the east. Photo by Tim Reichard (09/14/02).

President St north at I-83 - Baltimore, MD

Interstate 83 begins at the intersection of President and Fayette Streets. Acting as a service road for I-83 northward to Guilford Avenue and MD 2 (Calvert Street), the Fallsway separates from the freeway ahead. Photo by Tim Reichard (09/14/02).

Fayette St west at I-83 - Baltimore, MD

Fayette Street westbound at Interstate 83 north and President Street south. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

Fayette St west at I-83 - Baltimore, MD

Fayette Street angles southwest from the world renown John Hopkins Medical Campus to connect with Interstate 83 (Jones Falls Expressway) north ahead of Downtown Baltimore. 06/20/12

I-83 North

President St north at I-83 - Baltimore, MD

Weaving northwest from Fayette Street along a viaduct system, Interstate 83 commences with two northbound lanes. Exit numbers along the ensuing stretch use a sequential system. Photo by Chris Elbert (07/06).

I-83 north at Chase St - Baltimore, MD

The first reassurance shield for Interstate 83 was this assembly posted ahead of the Orleans Street viaduct (U.S. 40) and the Fallways entrance ramp. It was removed by 2007. Photo by Tim Reichard (09/14/02).

I-83 north at Chase St - Baltimore, MD

Continuing north between Guilford Avenue and Fallsway, Interstate 83 advances to Exit 3 for Chase Street beyond this confirming marker. 06/20/12

Sources:

  1. Inlow, Mike. Personal Email, AARoads feedback: I-83 in Baltimore. Baltimore’s World Trade Center is the tallest pentagonal building in the world with 32 stories.
  2. Pennsylvania Highways: Interstate 83.
  3. MDRoads: I-83.
  4. Pennsylvania Highways: Interstate 83 Business Routes.
  5. Pennsylvania Highways: Interstate 81.

Page updated April 12, 2023.