Accelerated Bridge Construction

Benefits of Accelerated Bridge Construction

Less disruption for travelers

Traditional bridge replacement can require months or even years of changing traffic patterns, including overnight closures, lane restrictions and narrow travel lanes. ABC concentrates the most significant traffic impacts into a single weekend, helping travelers avoid extended construction-related disruptions.

Improved work zone safety

ABC reduces the amount of time construction crews must work alongside live traffic. During the bridge replacement weekend, traffic is temporarily detoured away from the active work zone, allowing crews to complete critical work without vehicles traveling through the construction area.

Safer, more predictable travel

By reducing the need for long-term lane shifts and repeated overnight closures, ABC helps minimize the changing roadway conditions travelers typically encounter during traditional bridge construction.

Faster project delivery

The most disruptive portion of a bridge replacement can be completed in approximately 55 hours rather than requiring intermittent traffic impacts over as many as two years.

Through Accelerated Bridge Construction, the PA Turnpike is using innovative engineering to improve safety, reduce traffic impacts and deliver critical infrastructure improvements more efficiently.

Accelerated Bridge Project Map

Take a look at our ABC Bridge Projects map to see where the PA Turnpike's ABC bridge projects are taking place. 

ABC Projects in Design 

Milepost 185.89 – Locke Road, Huntingdon County (I-76). The PA Turnpike is planning to replace the current bridges over Locke Road with two 71-foot, single-span structures. This project will also include the resurfacing of the existing four-lane roadway from milepost 184 to milepost 186. Construction is anticipated to start in spring 2028 and last approximately two years.

Milepost A59.41 – Jordan Creek, Lehigh County (I-476). The PA Turnpike is proposing to replace the current structure with a 238-foot-long, two-span bridge over Jordan Creek. Construction is anticipated to start in summer 2027 and last approximately two years. 

Completed ABC Projects

Milepost A59.20 – Huckleberry Road, Lehigh County (I-476), 2022. The three-span, 100-foot steel girder structure carrying the Northeast Extension over Huckleberry Road was replaced during a 55-hour closure between the Lehigh Valley and Mahoning Valley interchanges.

Milepost A58.88 – Route 309, Lehigh County (I-476), 2019. The single span, 90-foot bridge carrying the Northeast Extension over Route 309 was replaced during a 55-hour closure between the Lehigh Valley and Mahoning Valley interchanges.

Milepost 238.09 – Norfolk Southern Railroad (I-76), Cumberland County, 2019. The 72-foot-long, single-span composite steel girder bridge carrying the PA Turnpike over the Norfolk Southern Railroad was replaced during two weekend closures between the Gettysburg Pike and Harrisburg West interchanges.

Milepost A57.66 – Crackersport Road, Lehigh County (I-476), 2017. The three-span, 131-foot bridge carrying the Northeast Extension over Crackersport Road was replaced during another 55-hour closure between the Lehigh Valley and Mahoning Valley interchanges.

Milepost 20.47 – Brush Creek, Beaver County (I-76), 2017. This was the PA Turnpike’s first ABC project. Twin 150-foot, two-span bridge superstructures were constructed adjacent to the Turnpike and then slid into place during a 55-hour closure between the Beaver Valley and Cranberry interchanges.

Bridge Videos