Turnpike road construction — Ultimately, it means a better and smoother road for traveling. For the short term, it means reduced speed limits and occasional periodic delays for the Turnpike Traveler. Turnpike customers need to be aware that this is the time for road repaving, bridge rehabilitation, median reconstruction and improvements and expansions at interchanges and service plazas.

The Turnpike Commission has embarked on a busy road construction program this season that involves projects totaling approximately $200 million. Although construction sites will dot the 506-mile highway throughout the summer months, Turnpike officials are assuring customers that safety and convenience will not be compromised. They are, however, urging motorists to be alert and attentive to speed limits and lane restrictions posted in the construction zones.

"The safety and comfort of our customers are highest on our priority list," Executive Director John T. Durbin said. "Construction sites are well signed. When changing traffic patterns are necessary, they are clearly designated. Our state police, Troop T, who patrol the Turnpike, are totally focused on the safety of motorists and their passengers. They enforce the law and the Turnpike’s safety programs. However, most importantly, drivers must be alert and attentive to the road conditions around them."

Major construction projects include the following:

Three total reconstruction projects, where the Turnpike is being rebuilt from the ground up, are under way: The Turnpike Commission, over the next ten years, is rebuilding the original 140 mile segment of the Turnpike from Carlisle to Irwin. Active construction is occurring at mileposts 76 to 85 and mileposts 94 to 99 in Westmoreland County and mileposts 187 to 197 in Franklin County. As part of the reconstruction effort, various bridge replacement and elimination projects are also taking place along these sections of roadway and from milepost 85 to 94 and milepost 110 to 121 which are sections scheduled for reconstruction next year. Occasional single lane patterns and cross over traffic patterns will be in effect at all these locations.

The expansion of the Valley Forge Interchange #24, Milepost 326, is under way with a completion date set for November. The $6.5 million project involves the construction of four additional lanes to help ease congestion at the toll plaza. The expansion will increase entry lanes from four to six and exit lanes from nine to 11.

The widening and rehabilitation of the Schuylkill River and Diamond Run bridges, Milepost 331, just east of the Valley Forge Interchange, is scheduled for completion in June. The $34.6 million project — which began two years ago — included construction of a new l,224 ft. bridge over the Schuylkill River, rehabilitation of the existing bridge, demolition and replacement of the Diamond Run Viaduct and the widening of the roadway within the project to accommodate the future need for three travel lanes in each direction. The new Schuylkill River Bridge will carry eastbound traffic while the existing improved bridge will carry westbound traffic. Two of the three new travel lanes in each direction will be open immediately. The additional lanes will not be opened until traffic volumes eventually require their use, which is expected in 10 to 15 years. The Schuylkill River Bridge was opened to motorists in 1953. The bridge, located between the Norristown and Valley Forge Interchanges, bears the highest traffic volume of any four-lane section on the Turnpike, carrying about 50,000 vehicles daily. A recent study forecasts that traffic along this corridor will double by 2020.

Construction has begun on the Ft. Washington slip ramp, Milepost 339.80, one mile east of the Ft. Washington Interchange #26 in Montgomery County. Slip ramps are access roads that will allow electronic toll collection customers only to enter and exit the Turnpike at points located between regular interchanges. In addition to the construction of westbound on and westbound off ramps at the Ft. Washington location, two fully automated electronic tolling facilities will be built and improvements will be made to intersections at Office Center Drive/Virginia Drive and Susquehanna Road. The $4.7 million project, scheduled for completion in October, represents the Turnpike Commission’s first slip ramp project. Slip ramps are an important component to the success of electronic toll collection that is scheduled for implementation in fall 2000 at Turnpike interchanges in southeastern and south-central Pennsylvania.

The redecking continues of the Pennsylvania half of the 6, 571-foot long Delaware River Bridge, Milepost 359. (The New Jersey Turnpike Authority owns, operates and maintains the other half of the 44-year-old structure.) Work that also includes replacing the median barrier is halfway done on the $19 million project. A completion date is set for fall 2002. Customers traveling westbound can expect single lane traffic 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Traveling eastbound, a single lane pattern will be in effect 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Other bridge construction includes a mainline bridge rehabilitation at milepost 172.8; an overhead bridge replacement at milepost 225.14; mainline bridge redecking and widening at Milepost 239.45 and redecking and widening to three mainline bridges located between milepost 282 to 283. Overhead bridge elimination is taking place on the Northeastern Extension at milepost A52.4. In addition, 10 overhead bridges are being painted at various locations along the Turnpike.

Several road resurfacing/median reconstruction projects are under way across the Turnpike covering nearly 30 miles of roadway. Other median reconstruction only projects are occurring on an additional 30 miles of the Turnpike. Median reconstruction involves the upgrading of existing steel guide-rail that was installed on the Turnpike in 1965. Construction crews are removing the steel rail, replacing it with a four-and-a-half foot tall concrete barrier. The concrete barrier is safer since it protects vehicles from crossing over into the opposite lane and it almost eliminates headlight glare from oncoming cars and trucks. Turnpike travelers can expect variable lane closures during off peak traffic hours at those project sites.