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September 27, 2024 News Release

PA Turnpike Updates Community on Allegheny Mountain Realignment Project


PA Turnpike Updates Community on Allegheny Mountain Realignment Project

 

SOMERSET COUNTY, PA — On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) hosted a public project briefing for communities adjacent to the Allegheny Mountain Realignment Project, now in Preliminary Design Phase. This new stretch of mainline roadway through Allegheny and Stonycreek Townships will improve regional access and mobility, reduce congestion and increase safety.   

Initiated in 1996, the project’s objective is to address aging infrastructure, traffic demand, congestion, safety and hazardous materials prohibitions, which require rerouting to local roads. The Allegheny Tunnel will be nearly 100 years old by the time construction begins. 

“While the Pennsylvania Turnpike has evolved since we first opened as the nation’s first superhighway in 1940 to address the current volumes and type of traffic, we have not wavered in our commitment to operating a safe and reliable roadway that supports national mobility,” said Pennsylvania Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “When completed, the Allegheny Mountain Realignment Project will enhance roadway safety, improve access for first responders and promote the safe and efficient movement of goods throughout our Commonwealth.” 

Some additional information:

  • The overall crash rate for the PA Turnpike while approaching or departing the Allegheny Tunnel is more than three times greater than the statewide crash rate for similar interstate segments in Pennsylvania;
  • Traffic volume near the Allegheny Tunnel is twice the volume from the original design;
  • Rehabilitating the existing tunnels is not feasible and would not solve the traffic capacity problem or address safety concerns; and,
  • A new tunnel would cost twice the proposed alternative (roughly $1 billion) and does not address all of the project’s needs. 

In January 2023, the Commission selected Bowman Consulting Group for the Allegheny Mountain Realignment Project preliminary and final design engineering services, which includes approximately 4.8 miles of new roadway. The realignment will feature three lanes of travel in each direction and a fourth lane westbound for truck climbing. An overhead structure will also be built that will serve as an animal crossing. 

“We are doing our due diligence during preliminary design to identify and mitigate environmental impacts, as well as impacts to the residents and property owners,” said Nick Noss, senior engineer project manager for the PA Turnpike.  “We are eager to begin the field work so we can balance the community’s interest with the needs of the project as we make this roadway safer for everyone.” 

Typically, public meetings are held at the end of the preliminary engineering phase because many of the questions are part of the preliminary engineering phase. While that is still the case with the Allegheny Mountain Realignment Project, the PA Turnpike added a meeting to kick-off the preliminary engineering phase. The meeting is intended to engage the community early on and address their concerns as the project continues. 

During preliminary design, the project team begins field work and performs various environmental and engineering studies. This phase lasts approximately four years. The field data will help redefine the new roadway alignment, which will be shared with the public at the end of preliminary design, with an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. The project team will incorporate public feedback, where applicable, and solidify all design aspects during the Final Design Phase, anticipated to last another four years. 

To stay informed on the project, visit the Allegheny Mountain Realignment website on paturnpike.com. 

This project is critical to delivering on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA 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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Media Contacts:

Marissa Orbanek, Press Secretary: (267) 408-5151, morbanek@paturnpike.com 

Crispin Havener, Assistant Press Secretary: (717) 870-2841, chavener@paturnpike.com