The PA Turnpike Prepares for Busy Travel Season
The PA Turnpike Prepares for Busy Travel Season
Motorists should prioritize safety with increased traffic projected on the roadway.
Middletown, PA (Nov. 20, 2023) – The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) is gearing up for what has historically been among the busiest travel seasons of the year, as over 3 million motorists are expected to drive within or through the commonwealth during the upcoming holidays. This year, Thanksgiving holiday traffic is expected to be up 2.3 percent on the PA Turnpike compared to 2022.
Daily PA Turnpike traffic projections for the holiday period are as follows:
| 2023 | Projected Motorists |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 21, 2023 | 675,000 |
| Wednesday, November 22, 2023 | 690,000 |
| Thursday, November 23, 2023 | 360,000 |
| Friday, November 24, 2023 | 535,000 |
| Saturday, November 25, 2023 | 545,000 |
| Sunday, November 26, 2023 | 525,000 |
| PROJECTED TOTAL: | 3,330,000 |
Turnpike maintenance crews will suspend work beginning at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 until 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26. All lanes in each direction of the Turnpike will be open and available to accommodate heavier traffic volumes, except during possible emergencies. Extra maintenance personnel will be patrolling the roadway, along with PA State Police.
With an increasing rise in motorists traveling the PA Turnpike this week to get to their Thanksgiving celebrations, the Turnpike maintains its dedication to providing a safe and efficient travel experience for all and urges everyone to drive responsibly, adhering to traffic regulations.
Travelers are advised to plan their trips in advance, allowing extra time for potential delays. The PTC’s website offers resourceful tools to help plan trips in advance, including a Toll Calculator, and how to save up to 60 percent with E-ZPass.
E-ZPass drivers continue to receive the lowest rates across the PA Turnpike, saving nearly 60 percent compared to the Toll By Plate rates. Non-E-ZPass customers can download the PA TOLL PAY smartphone app to create an autopay account and receive 15 percent savings on Toll By Plate invoices.
To sign up for E-ZPass online or find a nearby E-ZPass retailer click E-ZPass | PA Turnpike . To learn more about the Toll By Plate pay app click PA Toll Pay App | PA Turnpike.
Motorists can also check roadway conditions including color-coded winter conditions by visiting www.511PA.com, which allows motorists to set up personalized travel alerts for specific roadways, days of the week, and times of the day.
To report an accident or other emergency on the PA Turnpike, dial *11 via mobile phone. To learn more about PA Turnpike conditions, use one of these resources:
ON THE TURNPIKE
- 511PA Smartphone App: real-time, hands-free PA traffic advisories
- Digital Message Signs: more than 100 boards along the Turnpike
ON THE WEB
- 511/511pa.com: live, interactive map
- Twitter: @PATurnpikeAlert
BY PHONE
- 511: dial from any PA roadway for local travel information
- Pennsylvania Turnpike Customer Assistance Center: 877-736-6727, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Media Contacts:
Rosanne Placey, rplacey@paturnpike.com, 717-675-4362
Crispin Havener, chavener@paturnpike.com, 717-870-2841
Kathleen Walter, kwalter@paturnpike.com, 267-326-3856