 $40 Million Upgrade New
Food Service Choices Accompany Facility Upgrades |
The Pennsylvania Turnpike
Commission and the Marriott Corporation have teamed up to
invest over $40 million in upgrades to the
Turnpike’s 22 service plazas. The upgrades include
parking lot and lighting improvements, new wastewater
treatment facilities, renovations to rest rooms,
remodeled dining rooms, and new furniture. "As part of the Turnpike’s capital improvements plan we are aggressively upgrading and improving our service plazas," said Bill Capone, the Turnpike’s Director of Marketing. "Several of our service plazas were constructed back when the original Turnpike was built in 1940. Although there have been improvements made over the years, the time had come for us to modernize a number of our facilities." The Turnpike’s biggest dollar investment, over $30 million, went into new parking lots and lighting at the Hickory Run, Plainfield, Blue Mountain, New Stanton, North & South Midway, North Somerset, Allentown, Bowmansville and Zelienople service plazas. In many instances, entry and exit lanes were lengthened. Parking lots were enlarged, reconfigured and resurfaced. New lighting and signage was also installed. |
| The
Turnpike’s biggest dollar investment, over $30
million, went into new parking lots and lighting at the
Hickory Run, Plainfield, Blue Mountain, New Stanton,
North & South Midway, North Somerset, Allentown,
Bowmansville and Zelienople service plazas. In many
instances, entry and exit lanes were lengthened. Parking
lots were enlarged, reconfigured and resurfaced. New
lighting and signage was also installed. Another problem confronting Turnpike planners was aging wastewater treatment plants at several service plazas. $4.6 million was spend on new treatment facilities that will be capable of meeting treatment needs well into the 21st century. Travelers will also notice the installation of new stall partitions in the men’s rooms. Women’s rooms are currently being upgraded. At the Valley Forge Service Plaza both sets of restrooms were gutted and completely remodeled, and a second ladies’ room was added at a total cost of $350,000. Restrooms for both ladies and gentlemen were gutted and rebuilt at the North Somerset Service Plaza at a cost of $95,000.00. New dining room furniture and wall treatments have been installed at the Lawn, Valley Forge, Sideling Hill, Blue Mountain and P.J. Camiel service plazas at a cost of $150,000.00. A new $95,000.00 dining room package has been ordered for the North Somerset Service Plaza. To improve the speed of customer service, a new cash register system is being phased in at the Turnpike’s service plazas. Physical improvements to the service plazas are being accompanied by an expansion in the number of eateries available to Turnpike travelers. Starbucks coffee is now available at the South Somerset, North Midway, P.J. Camiel and North Neshaminy service plazas; Pretzel Mania is operating at South Somerset; Rita’s Italian Ice is now located at the Allentown Service Plaza while Pizza Hut Express has opened for business at the Bowmansville and Allentown service plazas. Tasty Cake pastries are available at the King of Prussia and North Neshaminy service plazas; and a Kentucky Fried Chicken Express is now operating at the North Midway Service Plaza. The Turnpike is also in the process of having Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) installed at each of the 22 service plazas. "Particularly over the winter months our service plazas offer a welcome respite from highway traffic," Capone concluded. "The service plazas now offer more eating options, easier access, and more pleasant conditions than at any time in the Turnpike’s 59-year history." |
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