Design & Construction Details

Mainline Widening Construction Activities

Current Activities: Summer 2024

• Excavating and grading the new eastbound and westbound outside lanes and shoulders
• Installing stormwater drainage pipes and inlets and drainage basins
• Constructing new sound walls along the westbound shoulder between mileposts 313.4 and 313.9
• Constructing retaining walls in both directions to support Turnpike widening
• Constructing the outside sections of new bridges over the Downingtown Interchange ramps, Conestoga Road (PA 401), and Pine Creek Road

Construction Update: Summer 2024

Widespread Construction Activities This Summer East of Downingtown

July 9, 2024 – Work activities are widespread across the 4.5-mile project area east of the Downingtown Exit as crews continue large-scale excavation, grading, and retaining wall and bridge construction this summer under the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s $214 million project to widen and reconstruct the Turnpike (Interstate 76) between mileposts 312 and 316 in Upper Uwchlan, Uwchlan, West Pikeland, and Charlestown townships, in Chester County.

Equipment operators remain active in several areas beyond the existing eastbound and westbound Turnpike lanes excavating, grading, and relocating large quantities of earth from high areas to low areas to establish a grade for the widening.

A long retaining wall remains under construction along the westbound side approaching the under-construction bridge over Pine Creek Road (see below), where deep gaps are being filled and compacted. Multiple, smaller retaining walls are being constructed on both sides of the Turnpike along the project area. These walls will support the newly created embankment.

Bridge construction also continues for the outer sections of the structure over Conestoga Road (PA 401).

Pine Creek Road in Uwchlan Township remains closed between Davis Road and Worthington (see detour map below). During the closure, motorists will detour to Worthington Road, Newcomen Road, Conestoga Road, and then Upper Pine Creek Road.

Periodic flaggers may restrict traffic at the Conestoga Road bridge work site.

As excavation is completed, drainage components will be installed in advance of construction of the new outer travel lanes and shoulders. Twenty-eight permanent drainage basins are being built as part of the project.

At the Downingtown Interchange (Exit 312), the contractor is building abutments for the outside section of the new eastbound and westbound bridges over interchange ramps. Crews also have graded a path for the new westbound ramps that will sweep through the interchange on a wider arc. Construction of eastbound ramps is underway and will continue through the summer.

Also at the interchange, beam setting and superstructure construction have commenced for the new bridge. The contractor may require periodic ramp closures during bridge construction.

Nightly lane closures may be in place periodically on Monday through Friday from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the following morning in both directions on the Turnpike for Stage 2 construction to widen and perform other work in the eastbound and westbound shoulder areas.

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 will also be announced through news releases to local media, posted on the project website, and sent to the project’s email subscribers.

Similar construction to widen and reconstruct the Turnpike is currently underway in the center area between Mileposts 324 and 326. Click here to learn more about that project.

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