PA Turnpike News

[74/171FAN]

So it took a bit of searching, but this seems to just be emergency/maintenance ramps at Lisburn Rd and not a new interchange. 

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 6 News: PA Turnpike Bridge Construction to Close Newportville Road in Bristol, Bensalem Townships

King of Prussia, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is planning bridge construction on Newportville Road in Bristol and Bensalem townships, Bucks County.

Motorists are advised of the following travel restriction:

Monday, October 14, through Saturday, October 26, Newportville Road will be closed and detoured 24/7 between Zimmerman Lane and New Falls Road. During the closure, motorists will be directed to use Zimmerman Lane and New Falls Road.
Local access will be maintained up to the work zone. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling near the work area because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

For a complete list of construction projects impacting state-owned highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, visit the District 6 Traffic Bulletin.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.

Information about infrastructure in District 6, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D6Results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brad Rudolph, bradrudolph@pa.gov

[Bitmapped]

A wide array of groups, including the local state representative, are coming out against the Pennsylvania Turnpike's plan to bypass Allegheny Mountain Tunnel.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2024/09/27/pennsylvania-turnpike-allegheny-tunnel-mountain/stories/202409270119

[wildcat7176]

With the use of all-electronic tolling now, and thus tollbooths being obsolete, it raises the question: What is the future of the trumpet interchanges? Obviously for now, it's an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situation given the PATC's financial struggles, but come 50-75 years from know (I know that's far ahead) when a lot of these interchanges will need improvements and renovations, it will be interesting what they do with them, when it would take up a lot less land by building a simple diamond interchange in certain lower-traffic areas, along with correcting Breezewood-style congestion areas . It also obviously adds the possibility for a lot of new interchanges given the less land it would take up (I think of the recently-built diamond interchange at Exit 87 on the Northeast Extension), but obviously there still should be an emphasis on it being an long-distance expressway route, not a local route. I know people have been pleading for a while about new interchanges on the NE Extension between Mid-County and Lansdale.

[ARMOURERERIC]

I wonder how much the no longer needed land could fetch at auction?

[SignBridge]

With the use of all-electronic tolling now, and thus tollbooths being obsolete, it raises the question: What is the future of the trumpet interchanges? Obviously for now, it's an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situation given the PATC's financial struggles, but come 50-75 years from know (I know that's far ahead) when a lot of these interchanges will need improvements and renovations, it will be interesting what they do with them, when it would take up a lot less land by building a simple diamond interchange in certain lower-traffic areas, along with correcting Breezewood-style congestion areas . It also obviously adds the possibility for a lot of new interchanges given the less land it would take up (I think of the recently-built diamond interchange at Exit 87 on the Northeast Extension), but obviously there still should be an emphasis on it being an long-distance expressway route, not a local route. I know people have been pleading for a while about new interchanges on the NE Extension between Mid-County and Lansdale.

Just a point of reference, some states' toll roads, like the Connecticut Turnpike (later I-95) and the Garden State Pkwy. were built to function as both a long distance highway and a local expressway with many interchanges, some closely spaced compared to most toll roads. They were built with barrier toll plazas to accomplish that, although G.S. Parkway also has some ramp tolls.

[Stephane Dumas]

With the use of all-electronic tolling now, and thus tollbooths being obsolete, it raises the question: What is the future of the trumpet interchanges? Obviously for now, it's an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situation given the PATC's financial struggles, but come 50-75 years from know (I know that's far ahead) when a lot of these interchanges will need improvements and renovations, it will be interesting what they do with them, when it would take up a lot less land by building a simple diamond interchange in certain lower-traffic areas, along with correcting Breezewood-style congestion areas . It also obviously adds the possibility for a lot of new interchanges given the less land it would take up (I think of the recently-built diamond interchange at Exit 87 on the Northeast Extension), but obviously there still should be an emphasis on it being an long-distance expressway route, not a local route. I know people have been pleading for a while about new interchanges on the NE Extension between Mid-County and Lansdale.

Just a point of reference, some states' toll roads, like the Connecticut Turnpike (later I-95) and the Garden State Pkwy. were built to function as both a long distance highway and a local expressway with many interchanges, some closely spaced compared to most toll roads. They were built with barrier toll plazas to accomplish that, although G.S. Parkway also has some ramp tolls.

Didn't the Niagara spur(I-190) of the NYS Thruway have also a similar setup to the former Connecticut Turnpike?

And on a off-topic sidenote, the double trumpet interchange of I-30 with Loop-12 in Dallas is a remnant of the era when that gap of I-30 was the former Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike. https://maps.app.goo.gl/xuGaBnKJxBXwzWw46  But it'll be soon replaced with a more modern interchange.

[thenetwork]

There were two double trumpet interchanges on SR-2 between Sandusky Bay and Port Clinton, Ohio.  One of which now has a roundabout on one end which eliminated one trumpet (SR-269 North exit)

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 6 News: PA Turnpike Bridge Construction to Close Route 82 (Manor Road) in Elverson Borough, West Nantmeal Township

King of Prussia, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will perform bridge construction on Route 82 (Manor Road) in Elverson Borough and West Nantmeal Township, Chester County.

Motorists are advised of the following travel restriction:
From 9:00 AM Friday, October 25, to 5:00 PM Friday, November 1, Route 82 (Manor Road) will be closed and detoured between Chestnut Tree Road and Route 401 (Conestoga Road). During the closure, motorists will be directed to use Route 82 (Manor Road), Route 345 (Bulltown Road), and Route 401 (Conestoga Road). 
Local access will be maintained up to the work zone. Motorists should use caution and be prepared for slow or stopped traffic approaching the work area. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will complete this project under a PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.  511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

For a complete list of construction projects impacting state-owned highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, visit the District 6 Traffic Bulletin.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.

Information about infrastructure in District 6, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D6Results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.

Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT: Krys Johnson, krysjohnso@pa.gov

[Bitmapped]

There were two double trumpet interchanges on SR-2 between Sandusky Bay and Port Clinton, Ohio.  One of which now has a roundabout on one end which eliminated one trumpet (SR-269 North exit)

The OH 2/OH 269 North exit was not a double trumpet. See Google Maps.

[MASTERNC]

With the use of all-electronic tolling now, and thus tollbooths being obsolete, it raises the question: What is the future of the trumpet interchanges? Obviously for now, it's an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situation given the PATC's financial struggles, but come 50-75 years from know (I know that's far ahead) when a lot of these interchanges will need improvements and renovations, it will be interesting what they do with them, when it would take up a lot less land by building a simple diamond interchange in certain lower-traffic areas, along with correcting Breezewood-style congestion areas . It also obviously adds the possibility for a lot of new interchanges given the less land it would take up (I think of the recently-built diamond interchange at Exit 87 on the Northeast Extension), but obviously there still should be an emphasis on it being an long-distance expressway route, not a local route. I know people have been pleading for a while about new interchanges on the NE Extension between Mid-County and Lansdale.

I would argue many of these trumpets are functionally obsolete between all the weaving and the very tight curves.  The NY Thruway can make trumpets with a 45 MPH suggested speed, whereas the Turnpike only recently started posting some ramps at more than 25 MPH.

[SignBridge]

With the use of all-electronic tolling now, and thus tollbooths being obsolete, it raises the question: What is the future of the trumpet interchanges? Obviously for now, it's an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situation given the PATC's financial struggles, but come 50-75 years from know (I know that's far ahead) when a lot of these interchanges will need improvements and renovations, it will be interesting what they do with them, when it would take up a lot less land by building a simple diamond interchange in certain lower-traffic areas, along with correcting Breezewood-style congestion areas . It also obviously adds the possibility for a lot of new interchanges given the less land it would take up (I think of the recently-built diamond interchange at Exit 87 on the Northeast Extension), but obviously there still should be an emphasis on it being an long-distance expressway route, not a local route. I know people have been pleading for a while about new interchanges on the NE Extension between Mid-County and Lansdale.

I would argue many of these trumpets are functionally obsolete between all the weaving and the very tight curves.  The NY Thruway can make trumpets with a 45 MPH suggested speed, whereas the Turnpike only recently started posting some ramps at more than 25 MPH.

NY Thruway was built after many sections of the Penn. Turnpike, hence engineered to more modern standards.

[Bitmapped]

With the use of all-electronic tolling now, and thus tollbooths being obsolete, it raises the question: What is the future of the trumpet interchanges? Obviously for now, it's an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" situation given the PATC's financial struggles, but come 50-75 years from know (I know that's far ahead) when a lot of these interchanges will need improvements and renovations, it will be interesting what they do with them, when it would take up a lot less land by building a simple diamond interchange in certain lower-traffic areas, along with correcting Breezewood-style congestion areas . It also obviously adds the possibility for a lot of new interchanges given the less land it would take up (I think of the recently-built diamond interchange at Exit 87 on the Northeast Extension), but obviously there still should be an emphasis on it being an long-distance expressway route, not a local route. I know people have been pleading for a while about new interchanges on the NE Extension between Mid-County and Lansdale.

I would argue many of these trumpets are functionally obsolete between all the weaving and the very tight curves.  The NY Thruway can make trumpets with a 45 MPH suggested speed, whereas the Turnpike only recently started posting some ramps at more than 25 MPH.

NY Thruway was built after many sections of the Penn. Turnpike, hence engineered to more modern standards.

Indeed, newer PTC construction tends to have very high design standards. Some of the loop ramps on the Southern Beltway have 45mph design speeds, for example.

[74/171FAN]

Latest Scranton Beltway Update:

October 2024

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will conduct public hearings for the Scranton Beltway Project. The public hearings are a requirement of the FHWA's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

The Scranton Beltway Project proposes to establish direct, highway-speed connections between I-476 and I-81 at the Wyoming Valley Interchange area, Luzerne County, and at the Clarks Summit Interchange area, Lackawanna County.

The public hearings will be conducted as part of the 30-day comment period on the Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA includes the purpose and need of the project, a description of proposed alternatives, and the potential environmental impacts of those proposed alternatives. The public comment period is open from October 28, 2024 to December 6, 2024. All interested parties are invited to attend these public hearings.

One public hearing will be held for neighbors near the Wyoming Valley Interchange, and a second public hearing will be held for neighbors near the Clarks Summit Interchange.

Details for both public hearings are below.

Wyoming Valley Public Hearing

Date:        Wednesday, November 13, 2024                                                                          Time:        Registration/Plans Display: 4:30 p.m.                                                                                    Public Testimony: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m                                                            Location: Pittston Area High School                                                                                                        5 Stout Street, Yatesville, PA 18640

Clarks Summit Public Hearing

Date:        Thursday, November 14, 2024                                                                              Time:        Registration/Plans Display: 4:30 p.m.                                                                                    Public Testimony: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m                                                          Location: Abington Heights High School                                                                                                222 Noble Road, Clarks Summit, PA 18411

The public hearing will offer those in attendance the opportunity to provide feedback on the EA document in the form of official testimony. That testimony will be transcribed and then included in the EA document.

Those providing testimony are asked to register in advance by calling 215-922-8081 ext. 1678 or emailing scrantonbeltway@paturnpike.com. Registration for testimony will also be available at the hearing. Oral testimony will be limited to five minutes per participant and the number of slots will depend on available time. Individuals may provide testimony privately in a separate hearing room with a stenographer.

In lieu of oral testimony, written comments may be submitted by mail or email to the contact below. All written comments must be post-marked by December 6, 2024. Written comments may also be brought to the in-person public hearing and deposited in a comment box. The public can access the comment form online during the public comment period at https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/construction/site/scranton-beltway.

Public Hearing Contact Information

Larry Mitros, PE, Deputy Project Manager                                                                              Urban Engineers, Inc.                                                                                            530 Walnut Street                                                                                                Philadelphia, PA 19106                                                                                          Email: scrantonbeltway@paturnpike.com                                                                            Phone: 215-922-8081 ext. 1678

The EA will be available for review at the following locations during the public comment period beginning at 12:00 pm on October 28th:

PennDOT District 4-0: 55 Keystone Industrial Park, Dunmore, PA 18512
Dupont Borough Municipal Bldg.: 600 Chestnut St., Dupont, PA 18641
Pittston Township Municipal Bldg.: 421 Broad St., Pittston, PA 18640
Avoca Municipal Bldg.: 950 Main St., Avoca, PA 18641
Jenkins Township Municipal Bldg.: 46 ½ Main St, Inkerman, PA 18640
Luzerne County Courthouse: 200 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
South Abington Township Municipal Bldg.: 104 Shady Lane Rd., South Abington Twp, PA 18411
Clarks Summit Borough Office: 304 S. State St., Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Clarks Green Borough Office: 104 N. Abington Rd., Clarks Green, PA 18411
Lackawanna County Administration Bldg.: 123 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503
Abington Community Library: 1200 W. Grove St., Clarks Summit, PA 18411
Pittston Memorial Library: 47 Broad St., Pittston, PA 18640
West Pittston Library: 200 Exeter Ave., West Pittston, PA 18643
The EA will also be available for review during the public comment period on the project website at https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/construction/site/scranton-beltway.

[roadman65]

The Clarks Summit interchange is so outdated. It needs a high speed connection  there badly. 

They could utilize the stubs at the curve where the freeway was to have been extended northward before I-81 got built. Build a wye interchange with I-81 and leave the current end for access to US 6 & 11 from I-476. Plus leave the trumpet to trumpet for I-81 access to US 6 & 11 but nix the ramps to the extension at the one end.

[Rothman]

I'm wondering what benefit people in Scranton are perceiving will come of this.  Does seem like a waste to me since so few people take I-476 from Clarks Summit south due to the easy shunpike.  Wonder if other interchange improvements along the I-81 corridor would be more welcome than those direct connections.

[74/171FAN]

I'm wondering what benefit people in Scranton are perceiving will come of this.  Does seem like a waste to me since so few people take I-476 from Clarks Summit south due to the easy shunpike.  Wonder if other interchange improvements along the I-81 corridor would be more welcome than those direct connections.

Personally, I have always referred to this project as the I-81 HOT Lanes.

[wildcat7176]

I may have missed it, but are they not going to build a direct ramp from 476 north to 81 north at Wyoming Valley, then from 81 south to 476 south? That would eliminate getting off at Wyoming Valley, having to go to the stop sign, merge onto PA 115 for about 500 feet, then take the ramp to 81 north.

I think it certainly will make things faster for people going from the Wilkes-Barre area to Clarks Summit without having to go through eastern Scranton/Dunmore on 81, but something definitely needs to be done to the Clarks Summit interchange to at least get rid of the ridiculous hairpin curve.

[vdeane]

I'm wondering what benefit people in Scranton are perceiving will come of this.  Does seem like a waste to me since so few people take I-476 from Clarks Summit south due to the easy shunpike.  Wonder if other interchange improvements along the I-81 corridor would be more welcome than those direct connections.

It seems like PA is hoping that this will eliminate the need to widen I-81 through Scranton, especially since they aren't building the movements necessary to make a beltway despite calling it that.  Given the tolls, I'm not holding my breath on that.

[roadman65]

I may have missed it, but are they not going to build a direct ramp from 476 north to 81 north at Wyoming Valley, then from 81 south to 476 south? That would eliminate getting off at Wyoming Valley, having to go to the stop sign, merge onto PA 115 for about 500 feet, then take the ramp to 81 north.

I think it certainly will make things faster for people going from

I'm wondering what benefit people in Scranton are perceiving will come of this.  Does seem like a waste to me since so few people take I-476 from Clarks Summit south due to the easy shunpike.  Wonder if other interchange improvements along the I-81 corridor would be more welcome than those direct connections.

It seems like PA is hoping that this will eliminate the need to widen I-81 through Scranton, especially since they aren't building the movements necessary to make a beltway despite calling it that.  Given the tolls, I'm not holding my breath on that.

the Wilkes-Barre area to Clarks Summit without having to go through eastern Scranton/Dunmore on 81, but something definitely needs to be done to the Clarks Summit interchange to at least get rid of the ridiculous hairpin curve.

Right.  That interchange was to only be a temporary ending that remained.  Originally the Extension was planned to go further north, but I-81 got built a instead.

[Bitmapped]

I'm wondering what benefit people in Scranton are perceiving will come of this.  Does seem like a waste to me since so few people take I-476 from Clarks Summit south due to the easy shunpike.  Wonder if other interchange improvements along the I-81 corridor would be more welcome than those direct connections.

It the toll isn't too high, there are some people who will take it just because it will be less busy. PTC's Southern Beltway (PA Turnpike 576) is a great example of this. There is a convenient free alternative (I-376 to I-79) available yet it gets a reasonable amount of through traffic because it is uncongested and can offer a more predictable driving experience.

[wildcat7176]

The PA Turnpike released the Fall Construction Updates for their construction projects (it was emailed to me, I'm not able to find a link online to it as of now), and it looks like the MP 324-326 widening project is about ready to open 3 lanes. Since they're replacing the signs, I wonder if they will change the signed routes for the Valley Forge Int., because as I recall, they used to sign for 476 eastbound and 422 westbound. IMO, they could probably just sign 422 both ways, because its arguably easier in terms of traffic to take the turnpike west to Mid-County and get on 476 south there instead of getting off at Valley Forge and sitting in traffic on the Schuylkill.

Also, work near the Downingtown Int. seems to be ramping up, though I'm not sure why they are widening near Valley Forge and Downingtown then leaving a gap from MP 316-324 where the SR 29 exit is (the PTC seems to be calling it the Malvern Int. now) last to be widened. I know they have done all the bridges in that area, but I'm not sure why they didn't build the interchange at SR 29 with future widening in mind.

Additionally, I was always interested as to why they are widening all the way to Morgantown, as I always assumed traffic thins out after Downingtown as that's technically the last exit in the Philly metro heading west, but perhaps I'm mistaken.

[vdeane]

Also, work near the Downingtown Int. seems to be ramping up, though I'm not sure why they are widening near Valley Forge and Downingtown then leaving a gap from MP 316-324 where the SR 29 exit is (the PTC seems to be calling it the Malvern Int. now) last to be widened. I know they have done all the bridges in that area, but I'm not sure why they didn't build the interchange at SR 29 with future widening in mind.

Additionally, I was always interested as to why they are widening all the way to Morgantown, as I always assumed traffic thins out after Downingtown as that's technically the last exit in the Philly metro heading west, but perhaps I'm mistaken.

It looks like there's room for another lane at PA 29.  As for the widening, the PTC's intention is to widen the entire mainline as it's reconstructed.

[wildcat7176]

I see, I was looking at the westbound side which didn't seem like there was much room. Also, that makes sense for them to be widening the entire mainline as they go along.

[Bitmapped]

I was on the WV-Uniontown section of the Mon-Fayette Expressway this afternoon. At the mainline and ramp toll plazas, the signs that displayed the toll rates for E-ZPass and Toll by Plate were entirely covered up. It wasn't clear why this was the case as everything else seemed normal.