State Route 903 Ramp Closures Scheduled as Part of Open Road Tolling Reconfiguration
State Route 903 Ramp Closures Scheduled as Part of Open Road Tolling Reconfiguration
Middletown, Pa. — With Open Road Tolling (ORT) gantries live east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension, the PA Turnpike is beginning its work to reconfigure interchanges, the driving force behind ORT’s safety benefits. As a result, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is advising motorists on the Northeast Extension (I-476) in Carbon County that the northbound exit and entry ramp to the PA Route 903 Interchange (Exit 87) from PA Route 903 will be closed from 7 p.m., Sunday, May 4 until 11 a.m., Friday, May 9, for overhead toll gantry removal and scale pit demolition on the ramps.
During the ramp closures, motorists will be directed to follow the posted detour route.
The switch to ORT east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension occurred in January. ORT will launch on the PA Turnpike’s western section in 2027. In an ORT system, tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping beneath overhead structures — called gantries — located between interchanges. Equipment on the gantry and in the roadway processes E-ZPass or Toll By Plate transactions. ORT reduces confusion and lane switching associated with traditional, stop-and-go tolling. Tollbooth removal eliminates obstacles, increases sight lines and reduces stress and distractions for customers entering and exiting the system.
In the coming months, traditional toll plazas will start to be removed, and each interchange reconfigured to provide an unobstructed traffic flow. While each demolition will be unique to its physical location, timing and traffic, the entire process will prioritize customer safety.
Pennsylvania State Police and PA Turnpike personnel will be positioned at impacted areas to assist drivers. Changeable message signs will also provide information on the traffic patterns. Motorists are encouraged to plan travel accordingly. Work schedules are subject to change based on weather conditions.
To report an incident 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
Changeable Message Signs: more than 200 boards along the Turnpike
ON THE WEB
511/511pa.com: live, interactive map
X/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.
This roadwork 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. Since 2023, the PA Turnpike has supported more than $1 billion in construction bids to modernize, maintain or improve customer experience. Key projects include resurfacing more than 70 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