Milepost A48 - A53

The existing four-lane highway is 72 feet wide and will be widened and reconstructed to 122 feet wide. This new roadway will accommodate three 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 26-foot median, and 12-foot outside shoulders. The project includes the replacement of six mainline bridges and two overhead bridges. The corridor traverses Lower and Upper Milford Townships, Borough of Emmaus, and Lower Macungie Township in Lehigh County.

The corridor improvements will be undertaken to enhance overall mobility of this regionally significant transportation facility and improve safety conditions within the corridor.

Mainline construction is expected to begin in 2028. Construction is underway on the Indian Creek Road Bridge Replacement. It is expected to be complete early in 2025.

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

The estimated cost is approximately $332 million.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission does not raise tolls to fund individual projects.

The PTC is making every effort to minimize impacts to streams, wetlands, water quality, earth disturbance, parks and stormwater runoff in coordination with the Lehigh County Conservation District, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The PA DEP requires compliance with Chapter 102 regarding erosion and sedimentation control and Chapter 105 regarding impacts to wetlands and streams in coordination with the USACE for the Section 404 Permit. In addition, the PTC is working through the USACE and Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office to minimize project impacts on cultural resources.

Local roads will remain open to traffic during construction, but will occasionally be reduced to one lane, or closed for short periods. These short-term impacts are required to facilitate construction and ensure the safety of commuters. All traffic changes will be coordinated with the local municipalities and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Join the mailing list for email updates.

The PTC has completed a noise analysis as part of this project and the potential locations that are eligible for noise abatement have been identified. Localized community meetings will be conducted in areas where noise
abatement has been identified, specifically to discuss the community’s interest in having the proposed noise wall constructed in each neighborhood. Property owners will have the opportunity to share their thoughts with the project team as it relates to having the noise wall constructed and the texture and color of the wall facing each neighborhood.

Coordination with impacted property owners will begin in the summer of 2024 and continue through 2027.

The PTC understands the importance of Jasper Park to this community and the rich history that surrounds it. At this time, the current design remains within the Turnpike’s existing right-of-way and we don’t anticipate any impacts. Every effort is being made to minimize impacts in coordination with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which acts as a liaison to the Federally recognized Tribes and Nations for these types of roadway construction projects. We will continue to work with the USACE, the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission, and the community to minimize impacts and preserve Jasper Park.