Interstate 78 in eastern Lebanon County has been restored to two lanes of traffic in each direction, in time for the Fourth of July holiday. The traffic restrictions were removed mid-to-late afternoon yesterday (Tuesday, June 24th).  This portion of I-78 had been restricted to a single lane of traffic in each direction for a bridge repairs since the beginning of April. These bridges are located in Bethel Township, just west of the Berks County line. They carry eastbound and westbound I-78 over a ramp connecting westbound I-78 with Route 22.

These bridges are part of an overall construction project that began last year to repair 16 bridges on or over I-78 in Lebanon County. Three overhead bridges are still under construction – Lickdale Road (State Route 1020) between Swatara and Bethel townships; Route 343 (Pine Grove Road) in Bethel Township; and Mount Zion Road (SR 1011), also in Bethel Township. PennDOT has contracted with Deblin, Inc. of Mechanicsburg to repair all 16 bridges at a cost of $5.6 million. The entire project should be completed by November of 2008.