Interstate 283 Pennsylvania
Overview
Interstate 283 serves the capital city of Pennsylvania from the southeast with connections from I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) and the freeway along PA 283 inbound from Lancaster. I-283 parallels Eisenhower Boulevard along a commercial strip through Lower Swatara and Swatara Townships. The north end is the Eisenhower Interchange, a multi level exchange with I-83 (Capital Beltway) and U.S. 322 west from Hummelstown.
History
HistoryReplacing Pennsylvania Route 283 (Eisenhower Boulevard) between I-76 and I-83, construction for Interstate 283 started in 1968 and was completed in 1971.1
Route Information
North End – Swatara, PA
South End – Highspire, PA
Mileage – 2.91
Cities – Harrisburg
- Junctions –
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-283 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
| Location | Vehicles per day |
|---|---|
| I-76 to Exit 1 | 59,000 (2013) |
| Exits 1 to 2 | 52,000 |
| Exits 2 to 3 | 61,000 |
Painted shields were added to the Interstate 83 mainline southbound ahead of I-283 in an effort to aid motorists at the forthcoming Eisenhower Interchange. 06/21/12
 Photo Guides
 Photo GuidesNorth End 
– Swatara, Pennsylvania
North at 
Heading north into Swatara Township on Interstate 283, 1.5 miles from the Eisenhower Interchange with I-83 and U.S. 322. 06/24/12
A diamond interchange (Exit 2) joins I-283 with PA 441 (Lindle Road) at Swatara. Ramps for I-83 south and U.S. 322 depart within one mile. 06/24/12
Single lane ramps separate from I-283 northbound for Interstate 83 (Harrisburg Beltway) south to Paxtang, Downtown Harrisburg and the State Capitol complex and U.S. 322 east to Hummelstown and Hershey. 06/24/12
The I-83 Capital Beltway Project will eventually reconstruct the substandard Eisenhower Interchange. Included in I-83 East Shore Section 2, future work will remove the turn off to stay on (TOTSO) movements along the Interstate 83 mainline and redesign all ramps with I-283 and U.S. 322. 06/24/12
Exit 3B leads directly onto I-83 north / U.S. 322 west to Interstate 81 north for Hazleton and U.S. 22/322 northwest to Lewistown. 06/24/12
North at 
Interstate 83 continues east from Harrisburg along side Paxton Street to the Eisenhower Interchange (Exit 46) with I-283 south and U.S. 322 east. U.S. 322 west overlaps with the remaining miles of I-83 north to I-81. 06/21/12
U.S. 322 extends east from Eisenhower Boulevard and I-83/283 as an expressway to Rutherford. I-283 links I-83 (Harrisburg Beltway) south with PA 283, a 29 mile long freeway from Highspire to Lancaster, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike at the Harrisburg East Interchange. 06/21/12
South West at
I-83 south and U.S. 322 west advance south from Twin Lakes in Paxton township to the Eisenhower Interchange with I-283 at Oakleigh. 06/21/12
U.S. 322 splits from I-83 southbound for Eisenhower Boulevard ahead of an exchange with Derry Street. The US highway turns east from Oakleigh along a freeway from the Eisenhower Interchange toward Ruthersford Heights and Hummelstown. 06/21/12
Interstate 83 arcs east from the separation with U.S. 322 (Eisenhower Boulevard) at Exit 47 to a Left Exit 46A for I-283. 06/21/12
Interstate 83 makes a TOTSO movement west from I-283 and the Eisenhower Interchange into the city of Harrisburg. A single lane ramp connects with Interstate 283 south at Exit 46A. 06/21/12
West at
The multi level interchange joining U.S. 322 with I-283 south and Interstate 83 (Harrisburg Beltway) was constructed in the 1960s. Photo by Tim Reichard (08/19/02).
U.S. 322 enters the Eisenhower Interchange south of Lawnton. The ensuing ramp joins Interstate 283 south toward Harrisburg International Airport (MDT). Photo by Tim Reichard (08/19/02).
South End 
– Highspire, Pennsylvania
South at 
Interstate 283 advances south across Laurel Run to the cloverleaf interchange with PA 283 at Highspire. The mainline concludes just beyond PA 283 at the toll plaza for the Pennsylvania Turnpike. 06/21/12
PA 283 originates just west of Exit 1B at Eisenhower Boulevard outside the borough of Highspire. The freeway extends east around Middletown and Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) to U.S. 30 at Lancaster. 06/21/12
An end shield stands within the median of I-283 ahead of the PA 283 overpass and trumpet interchange with I-76 west to Pittsburgh and east to Philadelphia. 06/21/12
West at
Two miles ahead of the Harrisburg East Interchange (Exit 247) with Interstate 283 north on westbound I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). 10/15/04
Interstate 76 runs between the borough of Highspire and the Greenwood Hills community west to the trumpet interchange (Exit 247) with I-283 north. PA 283 parallels nearby through Lower Swatara Township. 10/15/04
Exit 247 leaves Interstate 76 west for I-283 north to PA 283 east to Harrisburg International Airport (MDT), I-83 (Harrisburg Beltway) and U.S. 322 east to Hershey. 10/15/04
East at
Interstate 76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) makes a sweeping curve ahead of the Susquehanna River and Exit 247 / I-283. Photo by Chris and Amber Lokken (06/24/08).
Construction underway from December 2004 to May 2007 replaced spans dating to the 1950s that carried the Pennsylvania Turnpike across the Susquehanna River. The $82 million project built twin precast segmental bridges along the north side of the original spans. The 5,600 foot long spans accommodate six overall lanes of traffic.2 Photo by Chris and Amber Lokken (06/24/08).
The Susquehanna River bridge spans AMTRAK, two other railroad lines and PA 230 (Front Street) just ahead of Exit 247 for Interstate 283 north. Photo by Chris and Amber Lokken (06/24/08).
Two lanes separate from I-76 east at the Eisenhower Boulevard underpass for Interstate 283 north to Harrisburg and adjacent PA 283 east to MDT Airport and Lancaster County. Photo by Chris and Amber Lokken (06/24/08).
Sources:
Page updated January 19, 2020.