Design & Construction Details

Mainline Widening Construction Activities

Current Activities: Spring 2024

• Roadway paving
• Bridge construction over Kumry Road, Schmoutz Creek, Unami Creek, Ridge Valley Creek, Molasses Creek
• Excavation
• Drainage basin construction (16)

Construction Update: Spring 2024

Full-Scale Excavation Underway This Spring

Spring 2024 – Construction continues this spring on all major aspects of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s project to reconstruct and widen Interstate 476 (Northeast Extension) between Mileposts A38 and A44 in Montgomery and Bucks counties.

This spring, deck construction continues on the outer sections of the bridge carrying the Turnpike over the Ridge Valley Creek. Over the winter, the outer sections of the bridge over the Unami Creek (see above) were completed. The outer sections of the bridges over Kumry Road, Schmoutz Road, and Molasses Creek were completed last year. Construction of the center portion of the bridges will begin during the project's next phase in late 2024.

Paving operations continue generally progressing from north to south on the outer travel lanes of the Northeast Extension between the bridges as the Turnpike’s contractor continues to excavate the remaining rocky terrain on both sides of the roadway at the southern end of the project area to accommodate widening in each direction.

Excavation, grading, and ground stabilization for 16 sediment basins continue across the project area. These basins are being constructed to a temporary condition for the next stage of the project and will be completed when the center portion of the roadway is reconstructed.

The current stage of construction is expected to finish in mid-to-late 2024. Work will then get underway to reconstruct the existing lanes and median and build the center section of the five new bridges.

Turnpike (I-476) Northeast Extension construction during this stage of the project is expected to take place Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM through August 2024. No long-term lane restrictions are expected during this stage, but occasional nighttime lane closures and traffic paces will be required.

Motorists are advised to slow down to posted work-zone speed limits. The Turnpike is employing Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Cameras across the work area to enhance worker safety. Violators of the reduced Work Zone speed limits may be ticketed through the mail.

The current contract is a continuation of the reconstruction and widening that was completed in 2021 between mileposts A 31, just north of the Lansdale Exit, and A 38, near the Clump Road overpass in Franconia Township. The Extension was widened and improved between the Mid-County Interchange and the Lansdale Interchange under an earlier contract that was completed in 2017.

Completed Construction

The existing overhead bridges within the project corridor have been replaced to accommodate the current widening of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension from four to six lanes. The overhead bridges carrying Upper Ridge Road, Trumbauersville Road and Steinsburg Road over the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension have been returned to service. Several photos documenting construction progress at each of these structures are provided below.