Mainline Widening Construction Activities
Current Activities: Winter 2023-24
- Roadway paving
- Bridge construction over Kumry Road, Schmoutz Creek, Unami Creek, Ridge Valley Creek, Molasses Creek
- Excavation
- Drainage basin construction (12)
Winter 2023-24 – This winter the PA Turnpike’s contractor will continue to excavate the rocky terrain adjacent to the Northeast Extension’s (I-476) shoulders (see below) in the southern part of the project area to create space for the construction of an additional travel lane in each direction.
Construction also continues on five new Turnpike bridges under the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s project to widen and reconstruct the Northeast Extension (I-476) from Milepost A38 to A44 near the Quakertown Interchange in Montgomery and Bucks counties.
In the northern section of the project, placement of the base paving has begun and will be expanded to the south next spring as excavation is completed.
Following beam setting this past fall, deck construction is underway for the outer sections of the new bridge carrying the Turnpike (I-476) over the Unami Creek (see right) and is expected to be completed in April 2024.
The outer sections of the bridge decks over Kumry Road and the Schmoutz (see bottom image) and Molasses creeks have been completed.
Substructure installation for the new bridge over the Ridge Valley Creek is ongoing with beam erection anticipated to be completed in April 2024.
The outer sections of Kumry Road Bridge were completed in the fall and the road has been reopened (see below).
Construction of the center portion of all the bridges will take place during the next phase of the project when the existing lanes are reconstructed beginning in late 2024.
Excavation, grading, and ground stabilization for a dozen sediment basins are also continuing across the project area.
Turnpike (I-476) Northeast Extension construction during this stage of the project is expected to take place Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM through July 2024. No long-term lane restrictions are expected during this stage, but occasional nighttime lane closures and traffic paces will be required.
Motorists are advised to slow down to posted work-zone speed limits. The Turnpike is employing Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Cameras across the work area to enhance worker safety. Violators of the reduced Work Zone speed limits may be ticketed through the mail.
The current contract is a continuation of the reconstruction and widening that was completed in 2021 between mileposts A 31, just north of the Lansdale Exit, and A 38, near the Clump Road overpass in Franconia Township. The Extension was widened and improved between the Mid-County Interchange and the Lansdale Interchange under an earlier contract that was completed in 2017.
The existing overhead bridges within the project corridor have been replaced to accommodate the current widening of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension from four to six lanes. The overhead bridges carrying Upper Ridge Road, Trumbauersville Road and Steinsburg Road over the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Northeast Extension have been returned to service. Several photos documenting construction progress at each of these structures are provided below.