PA Turnpike Strengthens Incident Response With New Access Gates
PA Turnpike Strengthens Incident Response With New Access Gates
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) is expanding its network of emergency access gates across its system, helping first responders reach incidents and other emergencies faster, while improving safety for customers and emergency personnel.
“Every second counts during an emergency, which is why are constantly looking for ways to improve how we respond to incidents along our roadway,” said Tom Macchione, PA Turnpike Director of Traffic Engineering & Operations. “These new access gates are another example of our commitment to providing our customers with a safe and reliable roadway.”
Access gates are secured entry and exit points along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, used by authorized emergency responders and PA Turnpike personnel. New access gates are now open on both eastbound and westbound sides of the PA Turnpike at Milepost 238.24 in Cumberland County, as well as on the Northeast Extension at Milepost 40.25 northbound and Milepost 39.92 Southbound in Montgomery County.
Additional gates are under construction and expected to open later this year on the PA Turnpike in both directions at Milepost 355 in Bucks County and along the newly constructed section of the Mon-Fayette Expressway in Allegheny County.
Limited-access highways present unique circumstances for emergency responders, who navigate high and opposing directions of traffic, separated by a median. With interchanges spaced miles apart, strategically placed access gates help first responders reach incidents faster.
To help reduce those response times, the PA Turnpike continues expanding its network of access gates across more than 565+ miles of roadway.
The benefits are already being realized:
- Cumberland County (Milepost 238): Local first responders estimate the new gates can save them more than 10 minutes in response time.
- Montgomery County (Northeast Extension): The gates provide faster access for first responders and create additional options to safely turn traffic around, during emergency closures
- Bucks County (Milepost 355): Once completed, the gates are expected to cut response time for fire personnel in half.
- Allegheny County (Mon-Fayette Expressway): The new gates will allow emergency crews to reach the nearest hospital approximately six minutes faster.
The access gates are one of the many ways the PA Turnpike invests in the roadway. The PA Turnpike’s Travel Time Index – an industry measure of travel reliability - is 12% better than the national average. The PA Turnpike also maintains an average emergency response time of less than 15 minutes across various incident types, as well as an average roadway clearance time well under one hour.
Customers who witness an incident or other emergency on the PA Turnpike should dial *11 on their mobile phone to connect with our Traffic Operations Center (TOC), located in Middletown. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the TOC serves as the hub for all communications, monitoring activities across all PA Turnpike roadways, while coordinating incident response with the Pennsylvania State Police, maintenance staff, local first responders, towing and recovery partners to help improve safety for customers and restore normal traffic flow as quickly as possible.
A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (PA Turnpike) is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles. The PA Turnpike proudly supports safety and convenience for its more than 550,000 daily customers through 24-7 roadside assistance, round-the-clock food and fuel at 17 service plazas and a dedicated maintenance force and State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike’s approximately 1,400-person local workforce is unified in its mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about the PA Turnpike’s mission, vision and values, please visit Home | 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