PA Turnpike Completes Major Chester County Reconstruction, Opens Six Lanes to Improve Safety and Mobility
PA Turnpike Completes Major Chester County Reconstruction, Opens Six Lanes to Improve Safety and Mobility
CHESTER COUNTY, PA — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (Commission) has opened six lanes of travel to traffic following a major total reconstruction and widening project along the PA Turnpike in Tredyffrin Township. The $214 million investment rebuilt approximately four miles of roadway between Mileposts 312 and 316 from the ground up, expanding the highway from four to six lanes to improve safety, accommodate growing traffic demands and provide a smoother, more reliable travel experience for customers.
This project is part of the PA Turnpike’s statewide Total Reconstruction Initiative, a long-term effort to modernize America’s first superhighway. Since the program began, the Commission has reconstructed approximately 180 miles of its aging roadway, replacing infrastructure originally designed more than eight decades ago with modern highway built to serve today’s transportation needs.
“For more than 85 years, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has served as a vital transportation corridor, and our work to rebuild and modernize this historic highway continues,” said Brad Heigel, Chief Engineer for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. “Through total reconstruction, we are replacing aging infrastructure with a modern, six-lane roadway designed to meet today — and future — transportation demands. These investments reflect our ongoing commitment to improving safety, enhancing the customer experience and ensuring the PA Turnpike remains a reliable connection for generations to come.”
Funded by toll dollars as part of the PA Turnpike Commission’s capital plan, the project began in May of 2023 and involved extensive roadway, bridge and stormwater improvements. Crews moved approximately 1.1 million cubic yards of earth, recycled 37,000 cubic yards of existing concrete and constructed 28 stormwater management basins to manage runoff and protect surrounding waterways. The project also replaced three mainline bridges over local roads, including the Exit 312 ramp, Pine Creek Road and State Route 413. Hill International oversaw the project and Allan Myers led construction.
The reconstructed roadway features three 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, wider shoulders and an expanded median. These improvements increase roadway capacity while providing additional space for disabled vehicles and emergency responders, helping reduce incident clearance times and minimize traffic backups.
Launch in 1999, the PA Turnpike’s Total Reconstruction Initiative addresses the challenges of maintaining an aging highway while preparing for future transportation demands. Unlike routine resurfacing, total reconstruction removes the existing roadway down to its foundation and rebuilds it using modern engineering and construction techniques.
By rebuilding the highway from the ground up, the Commission is also reducing the need for repeated repairs and maintenance-related disruptions, helping deliver a safer and more efficient roadway for years to come.
For more information regarding the Total Reconstruction Initiative, please visit: Major Design & Construction Projects | PA Turnpike.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lanes are now open on the PA Turnpike in Chester County?
Six lanes are open—three lanes in each direction—along the reconstructed section between Mileposts 312 and 316.
Where is the PA Turnpike widening project located?
The project rebuilt approximately four miles of the Turnpike between Mileposts 312 and 316 in Chester County, including the area near the Downingtown Interchange.
Why was this section of the PA Turnpike widened?
The roadway was expanded from four lanes to six to improve safety, increase capacity, accommodate growing traffic and provide a smoother, more reliable trip.
What does “total reconstruction” mean on the PA Turnpike?
Total reconstruction removes the existing roadway down to its foundation and rebuilds it using modern engineering and construction standards, rather than only resurfacing the pavement.
What other improvements were included in the project?
Crews replaced three mainline bridges, built 28 stormwater management basins, moved approximately 1.1 million cubic yards of earth and recycled 37,000 cubic yards of existing concrete.
How will the new six-lane roadway help drivers and emergency responders?
Three 12-foot lanes in each direction, wider shoulders and an expanded median provide more room for traffic, disabled vehicles and emergency response, helping reduce backups and incident-clearance times.
This roadwork is critical to delivering on the Pennsylvania Turnpike's mission of operating a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. In 2025, the PA Turnpike supported more than $737 million in construction bids to modernize, maintain or improve customer experience. Key projects include resurfacing 24+ miles of roadway, beginning the demolition work for 20 legacy toll plazas as part of the transition to Open Road Tolling (ORT), and replacing key bridges at Beaver River and Hawk Falls. Resources and information on planned construction projects can be found at Traveling on the PA Turnpike | PA Turnpike.
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Media Contacts:
Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: 267-408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com
Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: 717-870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.com