PA Turnpike Begins New Breezewood Interchange Project
PA Turnpike Begins New Breezewood Interchange Project
Redesigned interchange to reduce congestion, improve safety and enhance local and regional connectivity
MIDDLETOWN, PA — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) has officially started preliminary engineering design phase for the Breezewood Interchange – enhancing safety, mobility and transportation infrastructure. The redesigned Breezewood Interchange will maintain local access to State Route 30 in Breezewood, while also providing a direct connection to Interstate 70, accommodating travelers who want to remain on the PA Turnpike while offering those visiting Breezewood a safer, less congested entry to the community.
“We are thrilled to introduce the public to our project team for the new Breezewood Interchange project,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “This project reflects how the PA Turnpike has a role in supporting healthier, more livable communities, while also improving connectivity across our Commonwealth. By making it easier for visitors to reach Breezewood, we are helping support the community’s efforts to revitalize the area.”
Breezewood is among the first communities to benefit from the flexible interchange design now possible thanks to Open Road Tolling (ORT), a cashless, free-flowing mode of collecting tolls without traditional toll plazas or tollbooths. The full implementation of ORT across the PA Turnpike by 2027 will allow for the addition of access points requiring a significantly smaller footprint at a lower cost.
The Breezewood Interchange, part of the original roadway built during the 1930s, was scheduled for renovations as part of the PA Turnpike’s Total Reconstruction Initiative. Rather than replace existing infrastructure, the PA Turnpike is providing direct access to I-70. This keeps long-distance travelers and commercial traffic on the interstate, while supporting safe, less congested access to local communities for visitors. This will enhance transportation infrastructure, connectivity and potential economic development in the Breezewood area.
The PA Turnpike selected Alfred Bensch and Company as its lead designer in February of 2025 and has been working through the onboarding process with the design team and planning the early stages of preliminary engineering, which is expected to continue through 2029. During this phase, the project team will look at various design options, study traffic patterns, view environmental and noise impacts, and start geotechnical engineering work on the road, bridges, drainage, and stormwater management facilities. They will also perform field work related to utilities, property boundaries and permitting.
The PA Turnpike has and will continue to engage local, state and federal stakeholders on this project, ensuring the proposed traffic flow changes support the local community.
The PA Turnpike recently sent letters to nearby businesses and property owners to announce the start of the project and provide notification of possible property access for field work, surveys, and environmental investigations. While public involvement opportunities will occur at the end of preliminary design, the public can sign up now to receive news and announcements.
To sign up or for additional information on the Breezewood Interchange project, visit the project website, PA Turnpike | Breezewood Interchange.
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 2024, the PA Turnpike has supported more than $1 billion in construction bids to modernize, maintain or improve customer experience. Key projects include the completion of the Open Road Tolling (ORT) facilities across the system, 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