Courtesy of PennDOT
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll announced today that most lanes of the Bayfront Parkway and the newly rebuilt State Street Bridge over the Bayfront Parkway have reopened in Erie, marking a major milestone in the $121 million Central Bayfront Parkway Project.
The reopening comes a full month ahead of schedule, restoring a critical connection between downtown Erie and the city’s waterfront while advancing one of the region’s largest transportation improvement projects.
The Central Bayfront Parkway Project includes extensive upgrades at the Sassafras Street Extension, State Street, and Holland Street intersections, along with multimodal improvements designed to enhance access for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists throughout the corridor.
“The Bayfront Parkway is an important artery for residents, commuters, and visitors to the beautiful City of Erie,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “State Street is an important connection within this corridor and a vital asset to the economic growth happening along the waterfront. The Shapiro Administration is laser focused on delivering in every county, every time, and we are pleased to announce the intersection is opening a month early.”
The State Street intersection closed on Sept. 2, 2025, to allow for major reconstruction work that included removing the bridge structure carrying State Street and the Bayfront Parkway over the former CSX railroad tracks. The new bridge was originally expected to reopen in early October 2026.
PennDOT officials credited the accelerated timeline to extensive coordination between agency personnel, contractors, and construction crews.
“When the construction schedule was changed to close the intersection, we and the contractor committed to reopening it in 13 months. We exceeded that goal and are opening in just 12 months,” said PennDOT District 1 Executive Brian McNulty.
McNulty noted that crews worked through winter conditions, weekends, early mornings, and long shifts to keep the project moving forward. More than a dozen crews worked simultaneously on various aspects of construction to meet the aggressive schedule.
Beyond improving vehicle access, the new State Street Bridge introduces several features aimed at enhancing the pedestrian experience. The redesigned corridor includes shorter crosswalks, landscaped green spaces with benches, upgraded street lighting, and color-changing illumination beneath the bridge underpasses.
Erie Mayor Daria Devlin said the project supports the city’s broader vision of creating stronger connections between neighborhoods and the waterfront.
“We’re building a city that is connected, accessible, and full of opportunity, and that starts with making sure people can get where they need to go and our neighborhoods are connected to one another,” Devlin said. “The Bayfront Parkway and new State Street bridge are important investments in that vision.”
While the reopening marks a significant achievement, construction on the overall project is far from complete. Work will now shift primarily to the dual-roundabout construction at Holland Street, bringing new traffic patterns across the corridor.
Under the next phase of construction:
Traffic at the hybrid roundabout near Sassafras Street Extension will be restricted to one eastbound lane.
Eastbound traffic at State Street will also be limited to one lane, with the lane beneath the intersection closed.
At Holland Street, traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted to the north, or waterfront, side of the intersection.
Holland Street will be closed between the Bayfront Parkway and Second Street.
Pedestrian detours will remain in place as work continues on the multi-use trail.
PennDOT is encouraging motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to remain alert, follow posted detour signs, and allow extra travel time while construction continues.
With the State Street Bridge now open, Erie residents and visitors can once again enjoy direct access between downtown and the bayfront, providing a boost to businesses, attractions, and waterfront development as the city continues its transformation of the Bayfront Parkway corridor.