PA Turnpike News

[ixnay]

Looks like work is underway for the MP 312-316 project, and it appears that the MP 324-326 project will soon be ready for traffic to switch to the newly constructed lanes.

Meanwhile, work has started on the I-95/Turnpike Section D30 project...

It also looks like all the gantries for the AET project from Morgantown eastward are in place, as well as those on the NE Extension. No equipment has been installed yet...

There is some equipment WB on the gantry before the Reading exit. There are also pavement sensors already installed at the one between Morgantown and Downingtown.

Guess I should have said no overhead equipment, as yes, most if not all appear to have the pavement sensors in place. I haven't been on the segment between the Reading and Morgantown interchanges lately but it's good to know work is continuing to progress.

The Reading/Morgantown gantry is lit up like a Christmas tree (ok, maybe just a white-bulbed one) at night but the others east of there (including two between Valley Forge & Norristown for some reason) are still dark.

If you were wondering why there are two gantries between the Valley Forge and Norristown interchanges, there is an interchange planned with Lafayette Street serving Norristown.

A long time coming. More on the Lafayette Street interchange here:

https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/construction/site/lafayette-street-interchange

And per https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/construction/site/lafayette-street-interchange/design-construction-details ... don't hold your breath.  Shovels go in the ground in 2027.

[MASTERNC]

Looks like work is underway for the MP 312-316 project, and it appears that the MP 324-326 project will soon be ready for traffic to switch to the newly constructed lanes.

Meanwhile, work has started on the I-95/Turnpike Section D30 project...

It also looks like all the gantries for the AET project from Morgantown eastward are in place, as well as those on the NE Extension. No equipment has been installed yet...

There is some equipment WB on the gantry before the Reading exit. There are also pavement sensors already installed at the one between Morgantown and Downingtown.

Guess I should have said no overhead equipment, as yes, most if not all appear to have the pavement sensors in place. I haven't been on the segment between the Reading and Morgantown interchanges lately but it's good to know work is continuing to progress.

The Reading/Morgantown gantry is lit up like a Christmas tree (ok, maybe just a white-bulbed one) at night but the others east of there (including two between Valley Forge & Norristown for some reason) are still dark.

If you were wondering why there are two gantries between the Valley Forge and Norristown interchanges, there is an interchange planned with Lafayette Street serving Norristown.

A long time coming. More on the Lafayette Street interchange here:

https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/construction/site/lafayette-street-interchange

And per https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/construction/site/lafayette-street-interchange/design-construction-details ... don't hold your breath.  Shovels go in the ground in 2027.

Some of this might be dependent on work by Montgomery County on Ridge Pike.  They are reconstructing a section east of there (closer to I-476) first.

[Dough4872]

https://triblive.com/local/skip-the-turnpike-frontier-offers-flights-from-pittsburgh-to-philadelphia/ It's gonna be cheaper to fly from Philly to Pittsburgh on Frontier than to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

[MASTERNC]

https://triblive.com/local/skip-the-turnpike-frontier-offers-flights-from-pittsburgh-to-philadelphia/ It's gonna be cheaper to fly from Philly to Pittsburgh on Frontier than to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

At least for now

[tmoore952]

https://triblive.com/local/skip-the-turnpike-frontier-offers-flights-from-pittsburgh-to-philadelphia/ It's gonna be cheaper to fly from Philly to Pittsburgh on Frontier than to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Until you have to rent a car, or take a taxi/Uber, or take public transportation to/from the Pittsburgh airport -- likely scenario because of airport's relatively remote location to the west --- not so great if you are going to the eastern suburbs. Unless you are lucky enough to have locals who can pick you up and have something spare for you to drive.

[Dough4872]

https://triblive.com/local/skip-the-turnpike-frontier-offers-flights-from-pittsburgh-to-philadelphia/ It's gonna be cheaper to fly from Philly to Pittsburgh on Frontier than to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Until you have to rent a car, or take a taxi/Uber, or take public transportation to/from the Pittsburgh airport -- likely scenario because of airport's relatively remote location to the west --- not so great if you are going to the eastern suburbs. Unless you are lucky enough to have locals who can pick you up and have something spare for you to drive.

At least in Philly there is a train that goes direct to the airport.

[tmoore952]

https://triblive.com/local/skip-the-turnpike-frontier-offers-flights-from-pittsburgh-to-philadelphia/ It's gonna be cheaper to fly from Philly to Pittsburgh on Frontier than to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Until you have to rent a car, or take a taxi/Uber, or take public transportation to/from the Pittsburgh airport -- likely scenario because of airport's relatively remote location to the west --- not so great if you are going to the eastern suburbs. Unless you are lucky enough to have locals who can pick you up and have something spare for you to drive.

At least in Philly there is a train that goes direct to the airport.

Understood -- I lived in Philly area for almost 35 years -- never had the pleasure of taking that train but I remember when the line was being built, particularly the curved bridge just outside the airport which was built while the building of I-95 in that area was mired in environmental litigation.

You specifically said Philly to Pittsburgh which is why I wrote my earlier response from that perspective.

[VTGoose]

https://triblive.com/local/skip-the-turnpike-frontier-offers-flights-from-pittsburgh-to-philadelphia/ It's gonna be cheaper to fly from Philly to Pittsburgh on Frontier than to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Until you have to rent a car, or take a taxi/Uber, or take public transportation to/from the Pittsburgh airport -- likely scenario because of airport's relatively remote location to the west --- not so great if you are going to the eastern suburbs. Unless you are lucky enough to have locals who can pick you up and have something spare for you to drive.

At least in Philly there is a train that goes direct to the airport.

There were some progressives in Pittsburgh in the '70s who proposed train service to the airport. The P&LE line would be used from Station Square to Coraopolis, then the Montour to the Parkway, with a route from there to the airport to be determined. No funding and no political will kept the plans only a dream.

Bruce in Blacksburg (but a native of the 'Burgh)

[jmacswimmer]

Out of total curiosity, does anyone know whether the new Warrendale toll gantry was officially activated? I passed thru heading east on Monday and in addition to the equipment appearing to be fully installed, all 3 lanes each direction are now routed thru the express lanes at the old toll plaza with the cash lanes now blocked off. (Checking GSV, it looks like eastbound had the cash lanes previously blocked off with 2 lanes routed thru the express lanes while the 28-31 reconstruction was ongoing, but westbound still allowed access thru the cash lanes with 1 lane thru the express lanes.) Couldn't tell if there was a noticeable flash from the cameras at either the old express lanes gantry or the new gantry, but there was also a brief heavy rain while passing thru.

[theroadwayone]

https://triblive.com/local/skip-the-turnpike-frontier-offers-flights-from-pittsburgh-to-philadelphia/ It's gonna be cheaper to fly from Philly to Pittsburgh on Frontier than to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

This sounds like a Top Gear or The Grand Tour Epic Race.

[MASTERNC]

Out of total curiosity, does anyone know whether the new Warrendale toll gantry was officially activated? I passed thru heading east on Monday and in addition to the equipment appearing to be fully installed, all 3 lanes each direction are now routed thru the express lanes at the old toll plaza with the cash lanes now blocked off. (Checking GSV, it looks like eastbound had the cash lanes previously blocked off with 2 lanes routed thru the express lanes while the 28-31 reconstruction was ongoing, but westbound still allowed access thru the cash lanes with 1 lane thru the express lanes.) Couldn't tell if there was a noticeable flash from the cameras at either the old express lanes gantry or the new gantry, but there was also a brief heavy rain while passing thru.

Not sure, but they are testing another gantry west of Philly with all the electronics activated.

[MASTERNC]

Looks like work is underway for the MP 312-316 project, and it appears that the MP 324-326 project will soon be ready for traffic to switch to the newly constructed lanes.

Meanwhile, work has started on the I-95/Turnpike Section D30 project...

It also looks like all the gantries for the AET project from Morgantown eastward are in place, as well as those on the NE Extension. No equipment has been installed yet...

There is some equipment WB on the gantry before the Reading exit. There are also pavement sensors already installed at the one between Morgantown and Downingtown.

Guess I should have said no overhead equipment, as yes, most if not all appear to have the pavement sensors in place. I haven't been on the segment between the Reading and Morgantown interchanges lately but it's good to know work is continuing to progress.

The Reading/Morgantown gantry is lit up like a Christmas tree (ok, maybe just a white-bulbed one) at night but the others east of there (including two between Valley Forge & Norristown for some reason) are still dark.

I can confirm, as of last night, that both the westernmost gantries (between Downingtown and Reading) are fully lit with floodlighting.  The one east of Downingtown still has no equipment whatsoever, likely because it's in the widening project.

[tmoore952]

There was a post recently (I believe in the NJ Turnpike thread) that said the NJ Turnpike is used more for local travel than the PA Turnpike.

While that is true for the most part especially given the long mileage (and very rural areas) covered by the PA Turnpike, I have used the PA Turnpike for local travel a lot. I have also used it for long haul, like Philly to Pittsburgh and the reverse -- and when I lived near Philly in the 20th century, also from Philly area to Poconos area, and the reverse.

For local travel: when I lived north of Philadelphia in the 20th century, I often used the PA Turnpike between all the various exits between Valley Forge and the Delaware River for local travel, to avoid the many lights on the parallel roads.

And just this past Sunday to get to NYE party,  I used PA Turnpike to get from US 15 to US 11 to visit friends near the US 11 (Carlisle) interchange.
Normally I would have taken (from Maryland) US 15 to PA 74 to get to Carlisle (or alternatively US 15 to PA 94 to PA 34 to Carlisle). But I don't drive PA 74, 94, or 34 (or many other back roads) in the dark anymore after hitting two deer on such roads in 2005. And so at 6 PM on NYE when it was dark, we took US 15 to PA Turnpike, and went west one interchange (about 10 miles) to US 11.

[jeffandnicole]

There was a post recently (I believe in the NJ Turnpike thread) that said the NJ Turnpike is used more for local travel than the PA Turnpike.

While that is true for the most part especially given the long mileage (and very rural areas) covered by the PA Turnpike, I have used the PA Turnpike for local travel a lot. I have also used it for long haul, like Philly to Pittsburgh and the reverse -- and when I lived near Philly in the 20th century, also from Philly area to Poconos area, and the reverse.

For local travel: when I lived north of Philadelphia in the 20th century, I often used the PA Turnpike between all the various exits between Valley Forge and the Delaware River for local travel, to avoid the many lights on the parallel roads.

And just this past Sunday to get to NYE party,  I used PA Turnpike to get from US 15 to US 11 to visit friends near the US 11 (Carlisle) interchange.
Normally I would have taken (from Maryland) US 15 to PA 74 to get to Carlisle (or alternatively US 15 to PA 94 to PA 34 to Carlisle). But I don't drive PA 74, 94, or 34 (or many other back roads) in the dark anymore after hitting two deer on such roads in 2005. And so at 6 PM on NYE when it was dark, we took US 15 to PA Turnpike, and went west one interchange (about 10 miles) to US 11.

For sure in the Philly area, the PA Turnpike and the Lansdale & Quakertown Interchanges of the NE Extension are used by commuters.  There's probably been some people that have found alternative routes with the toll hikes, and the whole WFH thing has probably allowed others to curtail their usage when they have the option to remain home.  But without many great alternative options, the PTC does benefit from Philly commuters.

[Crown Victoria]

It's the first weekend of January, so we all know what that means...


https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2024/01/04/pennsylvania-turnpike-tolls-increasing-2024/stories/202401040126

[roadman65]

Why does this bridge look newer from underneath than above?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yqQnNQa8KSbMgdMr8 Underneath.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/USBztP79JbRBum6r7 From above.

Same structure, same GSV date.

[Roadgeek2500]

Why does this bridge look newer from underneath than above?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yqQnNQa8KSbMgdMr8 Underneath.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/USBztP79JbRBum6r7 From above.

Same structure, same GSV date.

Because it was painted? That structure is very obviously old with the horizontal character lines and barrier style.

[roadman65]

Why does this bridge look newer from underneath than above?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yqQnNQa8KSbMgdMr8 Underneath.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/USBztP79JbRBum6r7 From above.

Same structure, same GSV date.

Because it was painted? That structure is very obviously old with the horizontal character lines and barrier style.

Credit to the painters as they made it look newish.

[Rothman]

Why does this bridge look newer from underneath than above?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/yqQnNQa8KSbMgdMr8 Underneath.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/USBztP79JbRBum6r7 From above.

Same structure, same GSV date.

Because it was painted? That structure is very obviously old with the horizontal character lines and barrier style.

Credit to the painters as they made it look newish.

DOTs have cyclical bridge painting contracts that can include cosmetic work to the beams themselves.

[roadman65]

Too bad that contract didn't include Tilghman Street above as the concrete is full of rust stains from the decades of rain hitting it.

Glad they didn't replace it like PTC and PennDOT have been doing elsewhere. I saw on US 22 near PA 33 they got rid of an age old pony plate bridge as seen in East Coast Roads recent updates of the Lehigh Vallley Thruway.  Plus several bridges on the mainline turnpike and I-78 in Berks County are complete replacements.

[Crown Victoria]

Too bad that contract didn't include Tilghman Street above as the concrete is full of rust stains from the decades of rain hitting it.

Glad they didn't replace it like PTC and PennDOT have been doing elsewhere. I saw on US 22 near PA 33 they got rid of an age old pony plate bridge as seen in East Coast Roads recent updates of the Lehigh Vallley Thruway.  Plus several bridges on the mainline turnpike and I-78 in Berks County are complete replacements.

That paint job's days are numbered. The replacement project for the bridge is underway... https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/construction/site/milepost-a53-a57-northeast-extension

[davewiecking]

Update on NE extension widening project (mileposts A38-A44):

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/traffic/2024/02/turnpikes-200m-northeast-extension-project-nears-milestone-just-south-of-lehigh-valley.html

[Crown Victoria]

The ORT conversion is continuing to progress westward...bids for the section between Fort Littleton and Gettysburg open on 3/13, and bids for the section from Ohio to New Stanton open on 4/10.

https://ebs.paturnpike.com/generalinformation/

[MASTERNC]

The ORT conversion is continuing to progress westward...bids for the section between Fort Littleton and Gettysburg open on 3/13, and bids for the section from Ohio to New Stanton open on 4/10.

https://ebs.paturnpike.com/generalinformation/

Interesting they're doing it piecemeal like this.  Missing some big sections in between.

[jmacswimmer]

^

At first I was wondering if "Ohio to New Stanton" meant that tolling would be reinstated between the New Castle & Cranberry interchanges, but this doesn't appear to be the case as the counties listed on the bid are Lawrence, Allegheny, & Westmoreland (and not Beaver or Butler, which the Turnpike passes thru between New Castle & Cranberry).

With Lawrence's inclusion on the county list, I presume this means that the Gateway toll plaza will be demolished and replaced with a gantry (despite traffic already proceeding highway-speed thru what was originally the express E-ZPass lanes at the plaza) - I wonder whether the new gantry will remain one-way eastbound or become two-way? Which would be slightly amusing since the Ohio Turnpike's Eastgate toll plaza is about to become westbound-only with the launch of their new tolling system.

Side note, I believe the new Warrendale toll gantry was indeed quietly activated at some point based on comparing the timestamp of a photo I took in the area against the E-ZPass timestamp for entering at Warrendale from a trip back in December.