Design & Construction Details

Mainline Widening Construction Activities

Current Activities: Summer 2025

• Paving in both directions
• Westbound excavation and grading
• Westbound sound wall construction

Construction Update: Summer 2025

Eastbound Paving Progressing This Summer

Summer 2025 – Paving of the new outer eastbound lanes on the Turnpike (I-76) is advancing from west to east this (see below) summer under the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s $214 million project to widen and reconstruct I-76 between mileposts 312 and 316 in Upper Uwchlan, Uwchlan, West Pikeland, and Charlestown townships, in Chester County.

Eastbound excavation was completed in the spring, allowing the contractor to complete base paving and begin paving the final wearing course. Eastbound paving is expected to be finished in late summer.

Excavation and base paving (see below) continue this summer in the westbound direction beginning at the eastern limits of the project (MP 316) and are expected to be finished in early fall.

Once eastbound paving is completed, eastbound traffic will shift onto the new outer lanes to allow for center area construction. Westbound traffic will shift onto the new westbound lanes in early fall.

Construction of 12 retaining walls has also been completed. The final wall on the eastbound side of the Turnpike was finished this spring.

Soundwall installation on the westbound side of the Turnpike (see below) began this spring and continues through the summer. All soundwalls are expected to be completed by the end of July.

Construction is also continuing on the new ramps and the overpass at the Route 100/Pottstown/Downingtown Interchange (Exit 312).

Pine Creek Road in Uwchlan Township remains closed until the completion of the new bridge in 2026. This deviation from the original plan to reopen the road temporarily between construction stages is due to safety concerns, given the narrowness of the existing structure and additional heavy construction work that will remain ongoing in the area. Motorists will detour to Worthington Road, Newcomen Road, Conestoga Road, and then Upper Pine Creek Road.

Nightly lane closures will be in place periodically this summer on weekdays from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following morning in both directions on the Turnpike for construction of the new ramps at the Downingtown Interchange.

Bridges over the Turnpike within the project limits — Bodine Road and Valley Hill Road (SR 1021) — were replaced during a previous contract from 2010-2013. These advanced bridge replacements will reduce the amount of time needed to complete mainline reconstruction.

Message boards providing notifications of upcoming road closures will be set up prior to the start of additional local detours. Closures and detours also will be announced through news releases to local media, posted on the project website, and sent to the project’s email subscribers.

For questions about ongoing construction or other issues related to this project, email us at Tpk312-316@bergcomm.com, or call Toll Free at 866-528-4181.

MP312-316 Schedule

Construction Staging

Pre-Construction: Fall 2022

The PTC completed a tree-clearing contract in late fall 2022 within the limits of their right-of-way in advance of the upcoming construction project. The reason for performing the work at this time is due to environmental regulations, which require that cutting down trees greater than 4 inches in diameter must occur between the months of November and March due to the presence of long-eared bats, which are an endangered species in this region. In order to not impact the schedule of the upcoming construction project, the PTC initiated a separate contract to remove the trees within the allowable time of year. The felled trees will be collected and turned into wood chips during early Stage 1 construction.

Stage 1 Construction: Spring/Summer 2023

• Install advance signing
• Reconstruct inside shoulders
• Place construction barrier along outside edges of existing EB and WB lanes
• Install environmental controls

Travel Impacts:

• Maintain two lanes in each direction
• Periodic off-peak single-lane closures in either or both directions

Stage 2 Construction: Late 2023 to Late 2025

• Excavation for construction of new EB and WB outside third lanes and shoulders
• Install stormwater drainage pipes and inlets and drainage basins
• Construct new EB and WB third lanes
• Construction of new sound walls and retaining walls along the EB and WB directions of the Turnpike
• Construct outside sections of new bridges over Downingtown Interchange Ramps, PA401 (Conestoga Road), and Pine Creek Road

Travel Impacts:

• Maintain two EB and WB lanes on the Turnpike
• Periodic off-peak single-lane closures in either or both directions
• PA401(Conestoga Road): Temporary nighttime lane closures
• Pine Creek Road: Detour for bridge reconstruction
• Davis Road: Detour for drainage reconstruction
• Downingtown Interchange: Off-peak on and off-ramp closures for ramp reconstruction

Stage 3 Construction: Late 2025 to Mid-2027

• Shift two lanes of EB and two lanes of WB traffic to the newly reconstructed EB and WB lanes and shoulders
• Remove existing median barrier
• Excavate existing EB and WB travel lanes
• Install stormwater drainage pipes and inlets
• Reconstruct the existing two EB and WB travel lanes
• Construct new median, median barrier
• Construct inside sections of new bridges over Downingtown Interchange Ramps, PA401 (Conestoga Road), and Pine Creek Road

Travel Impacts:

• Maintain two EB and WB lanes
• Periodic off-peak single-lane closures in either or both directions
• PA401(Conestoga Road): Temporary nighttime lane closures
• Pine Creek Road: Detour for bridge reconstruction
• Downingtown Interchange: Off-peak on and off-ramp closures for ramp reconstruction

Bridge Replacements

This project includes the replacement of three mainline bridges, which carry the Turnpike over local or state roads. The following structures will be replaced during the mainline construction:

• Pine Creek Road
• SR401 (Conestoga Road)
• Downingtown Interchange Ramps