Late this fall the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Route 9) will become part of the Interstate Highway System. From the Main Line near Philadelphia to its northern terminus near Scranton the Turnpike will be known as Interstate 476.          With the Interstate designation, the Northeast Extension will provide continuity with other Interstate routes. It will create a direct linkage with Interstate Routes 76, 78, 80, 81, 95 and 276, and will connect major intermodal facilities (airports, railroad stations, etc.) located in three large metropolitan areas within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.          "The designation of the Northeast Extension as I-476 will make it easier for the traveling public to include the PA Turnpike in their travel plans," said John T. Durbin, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.          Crews are currently completing a number of upgrade projects along the Northeast Extension required by the Federal Highway Administration

for the roadway to receive designation as an Interstate. The upgrades include guiderail improvements and roadway line restriping in various areas.
         Efforts are underway to coordinate map changes with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT), the American Automobile Association (AAA) and local businesses located along the Northeast Extension.
Beginning in early November, PENNDOT will start installing new directional signs on state and local roadways which feed into the Turnpike system. The entire Northeast Extension will be resigned with the old "PA 9" signs taken down and replaced with new "I-476" signs.
         Turnpike officials plan to celebrate the redesignation of the Northeast extension with a public unveiling of the first "I-476" sign sometime in November.
         The Northeast Extension joins the remainder of the Pennsylvania Turnpike system as a designated interstate highway. The Main Line of the PA Turnpike, from New Jersey to Ohio, already carries the interstate designation.