Milepost 324-326

The project is going out to bid in July 2021 and construction is expected to begin in September 2021. Construction is anticipated to take approximately 3 years with the Turnpike open to 6 lanes of traffic by November 2024. There may be some additional landscaping and seeding associated with converting the stormwater basins to their permanent condition that needs to be completed in the Spring of 2025 depending on weather and timing. The Contractor will provide a more detailed schedule once the project is awarded. Regular three week look ahead updates will be posted weekly on the project website as construction progresses, providing advanced notice of specific work activities.

Thomas and Glenhardie Roads will require single lane patterns for a period of time, in order to provide sufficient room for bridge construction. Temporary traffic signals will be installed on each side of the bridge to control the flow of traffic. Thomas Road will also require a temporary detour using Glenhardie Road during Stage 2 of construction to reconstruct the roadway underneath the bridge. Both roads will require periodic closures for short term operations such as bridge demolition and erection of the new beams. The website will be updated during construction to provide advance notice on the timing of these restrictions.

Night-time work will be limited with the exception of work that requires lane closures on the Turnpike. Lane closures on the Turnpike can only occur during off peak hours at night.

Environmental regulations require that cutting down trees greater than 5 inches diameter occur between November 1st and March 31st due to the presence of northern long-eared bats, which are an endangered species in this region. In order to not adversely impact the construction schedule and complete construction as soon as possible, the PTC utilized a separate contract to clear the trees within the allowable timeframe.

Yes. The contractor will be required to delineate the work zone once the project begins and those areas currently missing right-of-way fence will be replaced.

Demolition of the house at 1528 Glenhardie Road is anticipated to be completed in September or October 2021.

Please refer to the Noise Impact Analysis report under the Traffic Noise Resources tab on the website for additional information.

The sound barriers consist of concrete panels with an ashlar stone pattern, supported by steel posts. Property owners living adjacent to the Turnpike were provided an opportunity to express their preferences for sound barrier color and texture at previous community meetings. Please refer to the Sound Barrier Community Meetings link under the Traffic Noise Resources tab on the website for additional details..

The sound barriers for this project will be built during the first stage of construction, which will take approximately 2 years to complete between the fall of 2021 and end of 2023. Not all sound barriers will be constructed at the same time, however they will all be constructed by the end of 2023. The location of the sound barrier, relative to the Turnpike and construction access, influences the decision on when a given section of barrier can be constructed.

In addition to coordinating with the local townships, the PTC continues to work with local, state and federal regulatory agencies such as the Chester County Conservation Office, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and local special interest groups to make sure the project is completed with the least impact to the existing environment.

The project is funded entirely by Turnpike toll dollars, with no federal funds or state tax dollars involved.

No. The Turnpike does not raise tolls to fund individual projects.

Yes. This project consists of the two-mile section from the Valley Forge Interchange (Milepost 326) to the Valley Forge Service Plaza (Milepost 324). The next project will extend another four miles west to the Route 29 Interchange (Milepost 320). The timing of the next project will depend upon available funding after this project is completed.