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[Beltway]

But the businesses might not want to have their direct local connection eliminated.

FTFY

Them too in addition to the PTC.

[Alps]

But the businesses might not want to have their direct local connection eliminated.

FTFY

Them too in addition to the PTC.

I bet they'll be a lot louder about it.

[CentralPAGal]

But the businesses might not want to have their direct local connection eliminated.

FTFY

Them too in addition to the PTC.

I bet they'll be a lot louder about it.

Which, short or a drastic increase in fatal accidents along US 11, is precisely why this direct connection has about as high a likelihood of happening as Breezewood. Screw those businesses.

[mrsman]

I am still working with the Carlisle interchange, looking at 3 different concepts.

Here is my favorite so a far.  I may need to lengthen the relocated ramp highway and toll plaza and reduce the curves.  May need to expand the Turnpike interchange and widen the ramps.  The direct connection is elevated ramps extending over the existing local interchange.

I'm not sure there's a good answer here, but at least it's not a mainline terminus!

I know that a lot of this discussion is fictional as the powers that be don't seem to want to make a direct connection between the turnpike and other interstates (81,99,70 etc.), but if something like this were in the works, why would you still need toll plazas.  Can't we assume that there is a growing trend to eventually have AET on all toll roads.  It would certainly simplify a lot of the interchanges (and need less land) if the toll plazas weren't necessary.  Heck, even prior to AET, you can create an EZ-Pass only exit for the interstate and leave the existing plaza as access to the local businesses and US 11.

[vdeane]

That's what I was wondering.  The PTC currently has plans to make the entire system AET within the next decade.  Knowing the speed the PTC moves at, even if they started planning for a direct connection today, the system would be AET before a new interchange would be finished.

[Beltway]

That's what I was wondering.  The PTC currently has plans to make the entire system AET within the next decade.  Knowing the speed the PTC moves at, even if they started planning for a direct connection today, the system would be AET before a new interchange would be finished.

That is a question with Carlisle, how to convert to AET. 

In the case of my Breezewood design, building the two ramps would not be big loss if the interchange was converted to AET with a conventional interchange between the two highways, and they would have the direct connection in place that could work until the day that the conventional interchange could be built.

In the case of Bedford I designed a layout that I think would be fully usable in a AET situation, given the major buildings in the way of a conventional interchange between the two highways.

[silverback1065]

I am still working with the Carlisle interchange, looking at 3 different concepts.

Here is my favorite so a far.  I may need to lengthen the relocated ramp highway and toll plaza and reduce the curves.  May need to expand the Turnpike interchange and widen the ramps.  The direct connection is elevated ramps extending over the existing local interchange.

I'm not sure there's a good answer here, but at least it's not a mainline terminus!

I know that a lot of this discussion is fictional as the powers that be don't seem to want to make a direct connection between the turnpike and other interstates (81,99,70 etc.), but if something like this were in the works, why would you still need toll plazas.  Can't we assume that there is a growing trend to eventually have AET on all toll roads.  It would certainly simplify a lot of the interchanges (and need less land) if the toll plazas weren't necessary.  Heck, even prior to AET, you can create an EZ-Pass only exit for the interstate and leave the existing plaza as access to the local businesses and US 11.

that curve is too sharp

[74/171FAN]

The local interchange on I-80/US 220 for PA 26 was let today.

https://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-2/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1672

[Roadsguy]

The local interchange on I-80/US 220 for PA 26 was let today.

https://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-2/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1672

Interesting. From taking a look at the plans, it seems the connector will be given the internal designation SR 6126 and PA 26 won't be rerouted yet. I-80 signage will read "To PA 26 North." Hopefully this changes once the I-99 interchange is built, because making PA 26 discontinuous for no reason would be silly.

[74/171FAN]

The local interchange on I-80/US 220 for PA 26 was let today.

https://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-2/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1672

Interesting. From taking a look at the plans, it seems the connector will be given the internal designation SR 6126 and PA 26 won't be rerouted yet. I-80 signage will read "To PA 26 North." Hopefully this changes once the I-99 interchange is built, because making PA 26 discontinuous for no reason would be silly.

I agree with you that I was very much surprised that they would not reroute PA 26 onto I-80 when the interchange opens just to get traffic to use that route moving forward.

[seicer]

Map: https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-2/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork/PublishingImages/I80-A18%20Project%20Overview22.png

[Bitmapped]

The local interchange on I-80/US 220 for PA 26 was let today.

https://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-2/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1672

Interesting. From taking a look at the plans, it seems the connector will be given the internal designation SR 6126 and PA 26 won't be rerouted yet. I-80 signage will read "To PA 26 North." Hopefully this changes once the I-99 interchange is built, because making PA 26 discontinuous for no reason would be silly.

I agree with you that I was very much surprised that they would not reroute PA 26 onto I-80 when the interchange opens just to get traffic to use that route moving forward.

PA 26's extension to what is now PA 150 came after I-80 was built. I wonder if it might be better to roll the changes back. Truncate PA 26 at I-99 and re-extend PA 445 back to Howard over Hubler Ridge Road, or maybe relocate PA 26 to follow PA 64 to Hubler Ridge Road. Having PA 26 get on I-99 and then I-80 to exit back onto an independent alignment seems needlessly complicated, and I think the northern end of PA 26 is mostly just local traffic. It doesn't have a lot of independent utility.

[Ketchup99]

The local interchange on I-80/US 220 for PA 26 was let today.

https://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-2/pages/details.aspx?newsid=1672

Interesting. From taking a look at the plans, it seems the connector will be given the internal designation SR 6126 and PA 26 won't be rerouted yet. I-80 signage will read "To PA 26 North." Hopefully this changes once the I-99 interchange is built, because making PA 26 discontinuous for no reason would be silly.

I agree with you that I was very much surprised that they would not reroute PA 26 onto I-80 when the interchange opens just to get traffic to use that route moving forward.

PA 26's extension to what is now PA 150 came after I-80 was built. I wonder if it might be better to roll the changes back. Truncate PA 26 at I-99 and re-extend PA 445 back to Howard over Hubler Ridge Road, or maybe relocate PA 26 to follow PA 64 to Hubler Ridge Road. Having PA 26 get on I-99 and then I-80 to exit back onto an independent alignment seems needlessly complicated, and I think the northern end of PA 26 is mostly just local traffic. It doesn't have a lot of independent utility.

I personally agree we should change the designations for this but I'd rather roll PA-26 all the way back to where it was pre-1972 - running down the Benner Pike (present-day PA-150), through Bellefonte onto Jacksonville Road, following that under the new 80/99 interchange, and then continuing on its current alignment to Howard. PA-64 would then continue along College Ave through Pleasant Gap and to the Nittany Mall along where PA-26 is now. With PA-150 now decommissioned south of Bellefonte, the concurrency with PA-144 between Bellefonte and Milesburg can be removed, truncating PA-150 to the Milesburg interchange just south of I-80. This then allows PA-150 to be extended all the way along US-220's former alignment to Port Matilda, where it intersects I-99 at Exit 61.

I think this solves several problems at once:
 - Creates a single route from State College to Bellefonte
 - Eliminates what would be a discontinuity or two Interstate concurrencies with PA-26
 - Turns the entire State College-Pleasant Gap-Nittany-Lock Haven corridor into one route (it is, after all, one road)
 - Disposes of the "Alternate US-220" nonsense, giving it a proper state route designation
 - Removes the PA-144/150 concurrency from Bellefonte to Milesburg
 - Creates a single route along old US-220 from Lock Haven to Port Matilda
 - Gives the corridor from Bellefonte to I-80 East/I-99 North a state route designation
And the drawbacks...
 - None? Maybe the decommissioning of the southernmost mile of the Bellefonte Bypass and part of Water Street in Bellefonte (the latter can get "To PA-144 North" and "To PA-26 South" signage) but not much more.

[qguy]

Bumping the thread bee-kozz...

PennDOT has finally started work on the local access interchange, completion of which is of course is necessary before construction on the high-speed freeway-to-freeway interchange can begin.

The project website is here: https://www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-2/ConstructionsProjectsAndRoadwork/Pages/SR26-Local%20Interchange.aspx

The site has an OK diagram, but not much more. It does mention that work on the I-99 interchange is projected to begin in 2022. It also has a link to a PDF of the presser.

A tip o' the hard hat to Jeff Kitsko for catching this. His PA Highways page on I-99 is here: https://www.pahighways.com/interstates/I99.html

[Ketchup99]

It's about time. That interchange is terrible.

[Ryctor2018]

Major Bump!
Since I am hundreds of miles away, and the last time I went to New York City or Philly it was by plane I thought I would ask local roadgeeks about this status update:

https://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-2/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2095

Do any of you guys have pics (worth posting) of the progress that was made this year? That webpage stated Phase 1 is being finished this year. But, stages 2 will bid about a year from now. Stage 3 (the I-99/I-80 flyovers) will bid in 2 years. Can someone summarize why the yearlong delay? Anything else to share about the project? Hopefully, it is not cancelled. Maybe the infrastructure bill can accelerate the pace.

[rickmastfan67]

That webpage stated Phase 1 is being finished this year.

The page clearly says 2022.

The I-80/Route 26 local interchange project is east of Bellefonte and is part of a long-awaited safety-improvement in Centre County. HRI, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $52 million project, which will run through October of 2022. Up-to-date information is available on the project page at www.penndot.gov/jacksonvilleroad

[Ryctor2018]

From the webpage: https://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-2/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2095

Work this season includes completion of basin construction in the median, completion of northern ramps, full depth reconstruction of I-80 westbound bridge piers and northern abutment, and construction of the connector road between I-80 and Route 26.

I know the work on Phase one will be completed next year (2022). I was asking about the progress of the project. I follow many projects around the nation. Even if the project won't finish by the end of the year, it's still nice to hear from locals to that area about first hand status updates and progress.

[74/171FAN]

PennDOT - District 2 News: Mid-October Update for Local Interchange Project 

[Ketchup99]

Major Bump!
Since I am hundreds of miles away, and the last time I went to New York City or Philly it was by plane I thought I would ask local roadgeeks about this status update:

https://www.penndot.gov/regionaloffices/district-2/pages/details.aspx?newsid=2095

Do any of you guys have pics (worth posting) of the progress that was made this year? That webpage stated Phase 1 is being finished this year. But, stages 2 will bid about a year from now. Stage 3 (the I-99/I-80 flyovers) will bid in 2 years. Can someone summarize why the yearlong delay? Anything else to share about the project? Hopefully, it is not cancelled. Maybe the infrastructure bill can accelerate the pace.

Before I left for college in August, I drove that bit of I-99 and 80 once or twice almost every week. I-80 was a mess through spring and summer, but then in August, all four lanes were in business. I-99 was down a lane in both directions for quite some time around Exit 81 while they worked out some safety modifications on that big curve. And while I don't know anything definitive, it sure didn't look like there was an interchange there in August. I'll update when I'm home for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'll want to check it out anyhow.