PA Turnpike News

[MASTERNC]

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.

Do you remember how you signed up for those emails if it is offered to the public? The project websites seem to be hit or miss as far as updates.

[wildcat7176]

You actually have to sign up for updates for every individual project (I personally only signed up for things going on in the eastern part of the state).

https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/design-construction

Go to that website, scroll down and choose one of the projects on the map and hit "View Details", then there should be a tab for "News & Public Involvement", and it should allow you to sign up for emails.

[MASTERNC]

You actually have to sign up for updates for every individual project (I personally only signed up for things going on in the eastern part of the state).

https://www.paturnpike.com/traveling/design-construction

Go to that website, scroll down and choose one of the projects on the map and hit "View Details", then there should be a tab for "News & Public Involvement", and it should allow you to sign up for emails.

Got it.  Thought it was one broad systemwide update e-mail.

[74/171FAN]

An open house is coming soon on the proposed interchange at PA 130. 

[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.

Note the below location change:

The location of the Environmental Assessment has changed at the following office:

·       Previous Location: Luzerne County Courthouse: 200 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711

·       New Location: Luzerne County Planning & Zoning: 20 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

[Bitmapped]

I drove the Turnpike from New Stanton to Allegheny Valley yesterday. Fiber installation is underway along a lot of that stretch - some of it is done, some of it is in the process of being installed.

As was done in the eastern half, the new fiber is going above-ground on wooden poles, even through the middle of interchanges. I'm not a fan as it looks tacky along a freeway corridor, but the bigger surprise is how much of it is installed just off the pavement. There was no effort to future-proof things for when widening happens in the 4-lane sections. It's all going to have to be relocated at that time, which seems rather shortsighted.

[MASTERNC]

I drove the Turnpike from New Stanton to Allegheny Valley yesterday. Fiber installation is underway along a lot of that stretch - some of it is done, some of it is in the process of being installed.

As was done in the eastern half, the new fiber is going above-ground on wooden poles, even through the middle of interchanges. I'm not a fan as it looks tacky along a freeway corridor, but the bigger surprise is how much of it is installed just off the pavement. There was no effort to future-proof things for when widening happens in the 4-lane sections. It's all going to have to be relocated at that time, which seems rather shortsighted.

I think the plan is to bury it when the road is widened

[jeffandnicole]

I drove the Turnpike from New Stanton to Allegheny Valley yesterday. Fiber installation is underway along a lot of that stretch - some of it is done, some of it is in the process of being installed.

As was done in the eastern half, the new fiber is going above-ground on wooden poles, even through the middle of interchanges. I'm not a fan as it looks tacky along a freeway corridor, but the bigger surprise is how much of it is installed just off the pavement. There was no effort to future-proof things for when widening happens in the 4-lane sections. It's all going to have to be relocated at that time, which seems rather shortsighted.

Future-proofing it would require knowing the exact design of the future roadway, which would include drainage, electrical, guiderail, signage and other off-road considerations.  Better to place where they can now, then incorporate it into the overall design of the widened highway in the future.

[Mr_Northside]

I drove the Turnpike from New Stanton to Allegheny Valley yesterday. Fiber installation is underway along a lot of that stretch - some of it is done, some of it is in the process of being installed.

As was done in the eastern half, the new fiber is going above-ground on wooden poles, even through the middle of interchanges. I'm not a fan as it looks tacky along a freeway corridor, but the bigger surprise is how much of it is installed just off the pavement. There was no effort to future-proof things for when widening happens in the 4-lane sections. It's all going to have to be relocated at that time, which seems rather shortsighted.

Future-proofing it would require knowing the exact design of the future roadway, which would include drainage, electrical, guiderail, signage and other off-road considerations.  Better to place where they can now, then incorporate it into the overall design of the widened highway in the future.

I suppose I'll almost certainly see for myself in 3 days, but was any of the already reconstructed/widened stretch from Irwin <-> New Stanton on poles, or was it buried??
I know when I was last thru there late summer they had a bunch of spools of orange conduit I assumed was to bury to run fiber thru.

EDIT:  There's some Oct 24 Streetview with some of the conduit still there
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VxXxT3ZeeCqEKJgC6

[wildcat7176]

Just drove through the newly-widened MP 324-326 and I noticed they replaced the overhead signs at the Valley Forge exit. Normally for eastbound, the signage read: "I-76 TO US 202/I-476" and for westbound: "I-76 TO US 202/US 422". I know there was a discussion about this as to whether 476 should even be signed at Valley Forge in this day of age with Mid-County having the direct connection with 476 since the early 90s, but now, with the new signage, 476 is signed in both directions, and I noticed no mention of 422. This must be an error, because it makes no sense to me to sign 476 on the turnpike westbound when you should have ideally exited at Mid-County already if you want to get to 476, otherwise, you are making one big u-turn by getting off at Valley Forge and using the Schuylkill Expressway east to 476. Seems like some signage people might be stuck in the 80's.

The only reasonable justification I could think of to remove 422 from the westbound signage is the theory that it's quicker to Pottstown if you get off at Mid-County and take the Northeast Extension up to the Quakertown exit, though I'm not sure that is actually faster.

[jeffandnicole]

Just drove through the newly-widened MP 324-326 and I noticed they replaced the overhead signs at the Valley Forge exit. Normally for eastbound, the signage read: "I-76 TO US 202/I-476" and for westbound: "I-76 TO US 202/US 422". I know there was a discussion about this as to whether 476 should even be signed at Valley Forge in this day of age with Mid-County having the direct connection with 476 since the early 90s, but now, with the new signage, 476 is signed in both directions, and I noticed no mention of 422. This must be an error, because it makes no sense to me to sign 476 on the turnpike westbound when you should have ideally exited at Mid-County already if you want to get to 476, otherwise, you are making one big u-turn by getting off at Valley Forge and using the Schuylkill Expressway east to 476. Seems like some signage people might be stuck in the 80's.

The only reasonable justification I could think of to remove 422 from the westbound signage is the theory that it's quicker to Pottstown if you get off at Mid-County and take the Northeast Extension up to the Quakertown exit, though I'm not sure that is actually faster.

This must be the PTC trying too hard to keep signage consistent for both directions.

[akotchi]

Just drove through the newly-widened MP 324-326 and I noticed they replaced the overhead signs at the Valley Forge exit. Normally for eastbound, the signage read: "I-76 TO US 202/I-476" and for westbound: "I-76 TO US 202/US 422". I know there was a discussion about this as to whether 476 should even be signed at Valley Forge in this day of age with Mid-County having the direct connection with 476 since the early 90s, but now, with the new signage, 476 is signed in both directions, and I noticed no mention of 422. This must be an error, because it makes no sense to me to sign 476 on the turnpike westbound when you should have ideally exited at Mid-County already if you want to get to 476, otherwise, you are making one big u-turn by getting off at Valley Forge and using the Schuylkill Expressway east to 476. Seems like some signage people might be stuck in the 80's.

The only reasonable justification I could think of to remove 422 from the westbound signage is the theory that it's quicker to Pottstown if you get off at Mid-County and take the Northeast Extension up to the Quakertown exit, though I'm not sure that is actually faster.

This must be the PTC trying too hard to keep signage consistent for both directions.

If anything, I would think that U.S. 422 would appear in both directions on the overheads. Given that I-476 is signed eastbound at Norristown (South) and NE Ext. (North), it would not be displayed on guide signs at Valley Forge.  Let the navigation systems take care of the travel time savings part, if needed.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 6 News: PA Turnpike Bridge Construction to Close Kumry Road in Milford Township

[thenetwork]

Was just reading an article on FB that one of the Service Plazas on the NE Extension ran out of gas over the holiday weekend.
https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-turnpike-service-plaza-no-gas-poconos-thanksgiving/63052006

Not only that, but the entire network of ATM machines at all the service plazas have been down for a considerable amount of time this past week or so.
https://www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio/news/local/drivers-cant-get-cash-atms-pennsylvania-turnpike-rest-stops

And yet the toll rates will rise again next month....

What's wrong with this picture??? 

[Rothman]

People use ATMs at the service plazas?

[ixnay]

[T]he entire network of ATM machines at all the service plazas have been down for a considerable amount of time this past week or so.
https://www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio/news/local/drivers-cant-get-cash-atms-pennsylvania-turnpike-rest-stops

From the Audacy article...

ATMs at all 17 service plazas along the Turnpike have been out of order since Wednesday because of a court dispute between the Turnpike's ATM vendor, the Paramount Management Group, and Paramount's investors.

According to the Turnpike, Paramount says because of the suit the company's provider of vault cash canceled their agreement and removed money from the Turnpike ATMs.

Wonder what caused the court dispute?

[Crown Victoria]

Another note about the MP 324-326 widening and associated signage there and within the Valley Forge interchange...

New York City is now listed as a control city for the PA Turnpike eastbound from Valley Forge, instead of New Jersey.

[wildcat7176]

Another note about the MP 324-326 widening and associated signage there and within the Valley Forge interchange...

New York City is now listed as a control city for the PA Turnpike eastbound from Valley Forge, instead of New Jersey.

That's correct, and "TO I-95" is also signed for the turnpike eastbound as well. I think they could afford to change the control city at the interchange from Valley Forge to King of Prussia. You can keep the interchange name at Valley Forge because it would likely cause confusion if it was changed (though I'm not sure how much interchange names matter anymore, as they didn't give the new interchange at PA 29 a name, although I've seem some sites call it the Malvern interchange or the Great Valley interchange).

But changing the control city to King of Prussia makes more sense, it's a more recognizable place, and most travelers looking to stop will see "King of Prussia" and know the mall is right there to shop in.

[Bitmapped]

The 2025 toll schedule says that Open Road Tolling launches on the Northeast Extension and on the mainline east of Reading on January 5, 2025. It gives a January 2027 date for launching statewide.

[Crown Victoria]

Open Road Tolling on the Northeast Extension and on the mainline east of Reading (US 222) starts tonight.

The annual toll rate increase also takes effect tonight, but with changes to how tolls are calculated, some trips will actually see a DECREASE...for example, a trip from Cranberry to Carlisle using EZPass costs $28.20 today, but $28.03 tomorrow. With Toll By Plate, that would be $57.40 today and $56.06 tomorrow.

A trip between the original endpoints of Irwin and Carlisle using EZPass costs $23.00 today, but will only cost $20.94 tomorrow.

Note that the trips listed with decreases won't go to ORT until 2027.

https://www.citizensvoice.com/2025/01/02/the-road-ahead-new-turnpike-tolling-system-rate-structure-becomes-effective-sunday/

[vdeane]

Note that the trips listed with decreases won't go to ORT until 2027.

How convienent.

Is there a schedule for when they'll finish demolishing the old toll plazas?

[Crown Victoria]

Note that the trips listed with decreases won't go to ORT until 2027.

How convienent.

Is there a schedule for when they'll finish demolishing the old toll plazas?

Sometime between now and 2125. 

I've only seen a bid advertised for the plazas between PA 903 and Clarks Summit. My understanding is that the plazas in the sections going ORT tonight will be torn down over the next couple years. As for the ones further west, I would imagine 2027 or later.

NYSTA and the Mass Pike did their conversions more quickly, correct?

[vdeane]

Note that the trips listed with decreases won't go to ORT until 2027.

How convienent.

Is there a schedule for when they'll finish demolishing the old toll plazas?

Sometime between now and 2125. 

I've only seen a bid advertised for the plazas between PA 903 and Clarks Summit. My understanding is that the plazas in the sections going ORT tonight will be torn down over the next couple years. As for the ones further west, I would imagine 2027 or later.

NYSTA and the Mass Pike did their conversions more quickly, correct?

Maybe in the year 2525.  If man is still alive.

The MassPike converted quickly, yes.  The Thruway converted in stages, with the downstate toll barriers and the Grand Island Bridges converting a few years before the ticket system, but the whole ticket system switched at once, and the toll barriers were all removed within a year.

[Crown Victoria]

Note that the trips listed with decreases won't go to ORT until 2027.

How convienent.

Is there a schedule for when they'll finish demolishing the old toll plazas?

Sometime between now and 2125. 

I've only seen a bid advertised for the plazas between PA 903 and Clarks Summit. My understanding is that the plazas in the sections going ORT tonight will be torn down over the next couple years. As for the ones further west, I would imagine 2027 or later.

NYSTA and the Mass Pike did their conversions more quickly, correct?

Maybe in the year 2525.  If man is still alive.

The MassPike converted quickly, yes.  The Thruway converted in stages, with the downstate toll barriers and the Grand Island Bridges converting a few years before the ticket system, but the whole ticket system switched at once, and the toll barriers were all removed within a year.

If woman can survive, they may find...the PTC still working on the ORT conversion! 

Great 60's songs aside, considering the Thruway's ticket system sections only...they converted the whole thing at once and removed all booths within a year, with a total length of highway and number of interchanges comparable to the PA Turnpike's ticket system. The only reason the PTC isn't doing that is, well, that's not how we do it in PA. We generally take longer than necessary to get less done!

[Bitmapped]

If woman can survive, they may find...the PTC still working on the ORT conversion! 

Great 60's songs aside, considering the Thruway's ticket system sections only...they converted the whole thing at once and removed all booths within a year, with a total length of highway and number of interchanges comparable to the PA Turnpike's ticket system. The only reason the PTC isn't doing that is, well, that's not how we do it in PA. We generally take longer than necessary to get less done!

The conversion of tolling to height/axle-based ORT versus weight-based tickets, construction of gantries, and removal of old plazas costs a lot of money. PTC also has a ginormous debt load and a number of other expensive projects underway. It would appear PTC is trying to spread out costs over multiple years versus halting other projects or issuing even more debt to do things on an expedited schedule.