Design & Construction Details

Mainline Widening Construction Activities

Current Activities: Summer 2024

• Outside lane paving
• Excavation
• Drainage basin construction (16)

Construction Update: Summer 2024

Paving of New Outer Lanes and Shoulders Expands This Summer

Summer 2024 – Paving will expand this summer across the work area on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s project to reconstruct and widen Interstate 476 (Northeast Extension) between Mileposts A38 and A44 in Montgomery and Bucks counties.

Deck construction on outer sections of the new bridge carrying the Turnpike over the Ridge Valley Creek finished in early July. The outer sections of the bridge over the Unami Creek were completed earlier this year (see above). The outer sections of the bridges over Kumry Road, Schmoutz Creek, and Molasses Creek were completed last year. Construction of the center portion of the bridges will begin during the next phase of the project in late 2024.

Paving operations continue generally progressing from north to south on the outer travel lanes of the Northeast Extension (see below) between the bridges as the Turnpike’s contractor continues to excavate and install storm drains through the remaining rocky terrain on both sides of the roadway at the southern end of the project area to accommodate widening in each direction.

Excavation, grading, and ground stabilization for 16 sediment basins are also continuing across the project area. The basins are currently being constructed to a temporary condition and will be converted to their final conditions later in the project when final ground stabilization is achieved.

The current stage of construction is expected to finish in late 2024. Work will then get underway to reconstruct the existing lanes and median and build the center section of the five new bridges.

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.

Completed Construction

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.