PA Turnpike to Redesign Breezewood Interchange with a Connection to Interstate 70
PA Turnpike to Redesign Breezewood Interchange with a Connection to Interstate 70
Seeks engineering firm to provide preliminary and final design services
MIDDLETOWN, PA — When the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) launches Open Road Tolling (ORT) on parts of its system in January, it will bring increased community connectivity and economic development opportunities – and Breezewood is among the communities that could see its benefit.
Now through October 17, the PA Turnpike will accept statements of interest for the Breezewood Interchange (Exit 161) redesign, which includes a connection to Interstate 70, as well as a three-mile total reconstruction and widening of the PA Turnpike (I-70/76 and Interstate 76) between mileposts 160-163. Proposals include providing potential design concepts that maintain local access to the Breezewood area while demonstrating effective solutions that meet the future needs and address both opportunities and challenges for the region. The selected firm is slated to be named in Spring 2025, as part of the initial planning phase.
“Redesigning the Breezewood Interchange will have a significant impact on Pennsylvania drivers, visitors and commercial customers,” said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary and PA Turnpike Commission Chair Mike Carroll. “Beyond reducing congestion and improving travel times, a connection to I-70 enhances safety, air quality and accessibility to the roadway, while turning land back over to the community for development. There’s also an opportunity to enhance our Commonwealth’s truck parking capacity and improve access to safe parking.”
Based on the aging infrastructure, the Breezewood Interchange was scheduled for renovations as part of the PA Turnpike’s Total Reconstruction Initiative, which expands the roadway to six lanes. Rather than replace the existing infrastructure, the Commission is taking the opportunity to connect to I-70, a connection that will keep long distance travelers and commercial traffic on the interstate, while supporting safe, less congested access to local communities for visitors. The full implementation of ORT across the PA Turnpike system in 2027 allows the addition of access points at a significantly lower cost and requires a significantly smaller footprint. Under ORT, a traditional diamond or other types of interchanges are now possible.
“We are proud to continue supporting the Commonwealth with safe and accessible roadways that serve as a catalyst for potential economic development, and we believe the redesign of the Breezewood Interchange can provide more convenient access for Pennsylvania residents and visitors,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “This milestone marks a significant step forward in enhancing transportation infrastructure, connectivity and opportunities in the Breezewood area.”
In 2022, 2.65 million customers exited at the Breezewood Interchange and 2.83 million customers entered the Turnpike at Breezewood; 37 percent of all traffic were trucks. In ORT, tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping beneath overhead structures — called gantries — located between interchanges. Gantries can be added for a fraction of the cost and land requirements, increasing PA Turnpike connections within reach for communities like Breezewood.
The PA Turnpike Commission is engaging local, state and federal stakeholders on this project, ensuring the proposed traffic flow changes support and enhance community improvement efforts across Fulton and Bedford counties. Seeking an engineering consultant is part of the initial design phase. On average, a project takes 8-10 years from seeking a design consultant to the start of construction. More information on design and construction timelines will be released once they are established.
The Breezewood Interchange is part of the PA Turnpike’s original 162-mile stretch – which opened in 1940 between Irwin and Carlisle. Following 1964’s completion of Interstate 70 and PA Turnpike realignment four years later, the Rays Hill and Sideling Hill tunnels were abandoned. A quarter-mile stretch of U.S. 30 controlled by two traffic lights connects I-70 and I-76. The only other Interstate Highway route with a traffic light is the Holland Tunnel entrance in Jersey City, N.J., which predates the Interstate Highway System.
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 2023, the PA Turnpike supported more than $690 million in construction bids to modernize, maintain or improve customer experience. Key projects include resurfacing 46+ miles of roadway, a record-high 27 miles of total reconstruction, 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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EDITOR’S NOTE: Video of the Breezewood Interchange and the connection between I-70 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike can be found here.
Media Contact:
Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: (267) 408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com