[naviga:h3]Turnpike plans 2 bridge replacements[/naviga:h3]

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Turnpike is replacing two bridges using a construction method that will close sections of the heavily traveled interstate for a single weekend in each instance.

The agency said Thursday it will replace a bridge on the Interstate 76 main stem near Rochester in Beaver County the weekend that starts Friday, Sept. 22.

That will be followed the weekend of Sept. 29 with a new bridge outside Allentown on Interstate 476, the Northeastern Extension.

Detours will be in place in both directions for 55 hours, giving crews time to tear down the existing bridges and position the new spans.

llentown opened in 1957.

[naviga:h3]Lawmaker: Income tax hike inevitable[/naviga:h3]

HARRISBURG — A Republican state lawmaker from suburban Philadelphia says an income tax increase is inevitable to fix the state’s deficit-riddled finances, even if it doesn’t happen this year.

Rep. Gene DiGirolamo said Thursday he’s proposing an 8 percent income tax increase to take the rate to 3.32 percent as part of a wider revenue package.

Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives will return to session next week amid a two-month stalemate over plugging a $2.2 billion budget hole.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf says he’ll be out of options to pay bills on time in a week.

[naviga:h3]Congressman won’t seek re-election[/naviga:h3]

WASHINGTON — Republican Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, leader of an influential caucus of GOP moderates in the House, said Thursday he will not seek re-election to an eighth House term next year.

Dent, who has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, said in an interview that he never intended to serve as long as he has. But he also said the polarization and conflict on Capitol Hill that make even routine legislating difficult “get tiring.”

“Clearly there are challenges here,” Dent said. “I worry that with both political parties there is a growing protectionism, nativism and at times nihilism.”