The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is committed to enhancing travel safety and efficiency across its network. As part of this initiative, we are undertaking comprehensive bridge improvement projects aimed at ensuring long-term reliability. These projects involve critical updates to bridge structures, including structural enhancements, roadway alignment adjustments, and improved vertical clearances. These enhancements will not only prolong the lifespan of our bridges but also optimize their capacity to accommodate increasing traffic demands.
The bridge improvement projects are designed to deliver significant benefits to our travelers. By addressing structural concerns and improving alignment, we will enhance overall safety and reduce congestion, ensuring smoother and more predictable drives.
Project Benefits
Our projects are designed to bring significant improvements and benefits to the PA Turnpike. Each project aims to enhance the efficiency, safety, and overall experience for all travelers. Below are the project benefits for this project.
Safety
Pavement Condition
Capacity
Bridge Improvements
Turnpike TV Videos
Check out Turnpike TV, the PA Turnpike’s video series highlighting our projects, daily operations, and team members. Watch below and visit our Turnpike TV page for the full series.
Preliminary Design
Bridges
Right of Way
Noise Walls
Documents
Explore our additional project documents for more information.
2003 Final Environmental Impact Documents
The PA Turnpike Commission studied a high-speed, direct interchange between the PA Turnpike and I-95 and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was completed in 2003. It evaluated the various design alternatives and their potential impacts and documented the preferred alternative. Download the FEIS.
The Record of Decision (ROD) was issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on December 31, 2003. It approved the preferred alternative identified in the FEIS. Download the Record of Decision.
Improvements FAQs
What do the traffic projections shown during the Public Meeting series and on the Project Website reflect? How do these projections relate to capacity?
The future traffic projections focus on a 20-year horizon where the volumes generated by the regional employment and population forecasts and their respective origins and destinations are distributed on the interstate and arterial roadway network. Those 2050 projections for the DRB show that an additional lane of capacity in each direction is needed to accommodate this future demand.
While these projections take into consideration the future full-build out of the I-95/I-295/PA Turnpike Interchange ramps in PA, the DRB project itself does not substantively alter major regional travel patterns. The added capacity is generally needed to accommodate expected background traffic growth.
Please address consideration for traffic on local roads in the Project Area?
Local roads in the Project Area (both PA and NJ) will be considered during the design process. This consideration may involve obtaining traffic counts to determine trends over time, as well as determining if existing traffic conditions will be worsened during construction. The Project Team will coordinate with local and County officials during this process. Projected Construction activities will conform to the state and local authorizations for access and noise restrictions.
Will noise studies be completed? Where will noise barriers be located?
Yes, preliminary noise studies will be completed as part of the SEIS process to provide anticipated traffic noise levels for the alternatives under study. Once an alternative is selected, additional noise studies will be conducted to determine whether noise abatement (for example, noise walls) is warranted and, if so, where it will be located.
Will construction occur during the day or at night?
The timing of construction will depend on several factors, including but not limited to the safety of the contractor and traveling public, the need to maintain traffic across the Delaware River Bridge during construction, and potential disruption to nearby communities. The project team will continue to gather input throughout the environmental and design processes and will explore opportunities to minimize potential impacts to the extent possible.
Will construction cause vibration impacts?
Vibration inducing activities will be closely monitored and to ensure they do not exceed normal ranges. The design will incorporate measures such as drilled foundation shafts to minimize potential vibration.
Why is the Team completing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) instead of a re-evaluation of the selected alternative in the 2003 Record of Decision (ROD)?
A re-evaluation is used to assess whether the ROD remains valid in light of new circumstances, updated regulations, and/or the passage of time. To date, the PA Turnpike had been utilizing re-evaluations to advance the other stages of the project within the 2003 Selected Alternative. However, due to the 2005 designation of the Delaware River Bridge as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and the 2017 fracture repair and comprehensive bridge safety inspection, in addition to the passage of time since the issuance of the ROD, the Federal Highway Administration directed the PA Turnpike and NJTA to prepare a SEIS.
Does the FHWA have to select the alternative from the 2003 Record of Decision (ROD)?
No, the FHWA is not required to select the selected alternative identified in the 2003 ROD. The SEIS follows the same process and format as that of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). While it builds off the original 2003 FEIS and ROD, the SEIS for the DRB project will be prepared based on updated information and analyses, public involvement, and agency coordination. Additionally, the SEIS will consider a reasonable range of alternatives. In other words, the SEIS provides the opportunity for a ‘fresh look’ at the project. The FHWA will issue a Final SEIS and ROD that will document the rationale for the selected alternative.
Will tolls increase because of this project?
No. The owners do not raise tolls to fund individual projects.
What are the field crews in my neighborhood working on?
The Team is currently re-evaluating all existing conditions in the study area. This work includes a multitude of tasks such as surveys, environmental studies, geotechnical investigations, and more. If property access is required, the property owner will be notified in advance.
Will the public be included in the process and have an opportunity to comment on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)?
Yes. Opportunities to provide feedback and get updates on the results of the Alternative Analysis, Preliminary Engineering, and SEIS will be provided through public meetings, stakeholder meetings, public surveys, project updates, and public hearings. Public meetings/hearings will be held in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Please Join the mailing list today or go to the Contact page to request a meeting in your community.
Bridge Improvements
