PA Turnpike News

[thenetwork]

The issue is going to come down to regarding whether trucks should be on the Turnpike at all during a snowstorm.  I still don't see how this relates to a new tunnel or tunnel bypass whatsoever.

I agree.  One thing that Colorado does (at least on I-70) is to mandate that trucks have chains on-board and ready for use if they are headed between Denver and Grand Junction during the snow season (which is long there (October to May) thanks to the high elevations).

Colorado added a new wrinkle to winter driving this year called a Traction Law aka "Code 15".  This new regulation states that if a Traction Law (what it is more commonly know in the media) is in effect on a particular stretch of road, only vehicles (cars & otherwise) with either chains, mud &/or snow tires, or 4WD are legally permitted to traverse.  Anyone else caught driving on a stretch of highway where a Traction Law is in effect could be ticketed.

http://kdvr.com/2015/11/07/colorado-to-enforce-little-known-law-more-strictly-on-i-70-this-winter/

It's primarily used on I-70, but I have seen it issued on other highways as well.

[jeffandnicole]

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160127_ap_39fe22b9a9cf4e35a681a9f0a115c6d9.html?c=r

PA Turnpike Westbound to be closed for a few hours Thursday in order to remove a tractor trailer that slid down an embankment during the storm.

[Gnutella]

It's all blah-blah-blah from the PA Turnpike.  Less than two years ago, they had another incident closer to Philly during a snowstorm that closed the highway for an extensive period of time.  They said they would review things then.  Clearly, whatever 'Review' they did resulted in nothing being done.

Of course, they're also looking for excuses to abandon the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel. This just adds to the ammunition.

They plan to either bore a new pair of tunnels with three lanes each, or build a six-lane bypass. Both options would help prevent what happened because there'd be a third lane. Coincidentally, the existing cattle chutes are in place because of slope remediation in preparation for widening the Turnpike east of the tunnel to six lanes. It also appears that trucks are instructed to use only the right lane through the cattle chutes, because the left lane is only 11' wide.

[jemacedo9]

I'm waiting to hear what the report says...because media reports had conflicting stories.  Most stories seemed to "blame" trucks having a hard time getting up the mountain.  But other stories "blamed" jack-knifed trucks.  My guess...probably more related to jack-knifed trucks...and once that happens with the snow rates, there isn't much that can be done, even if 6 lanes.

[jeffandnicole]

It's all blah-blah-blah from the PA Turnpike.  Less than two years ago, they had another incident closer to Philly during a snowstorm that closed the highway for an extensive period of time.  They said they would review things then.  Clearly, whatever 'Review' they did resulted in nothing being done.

Of course, they're also looking for excuses to abandon the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel. This just adds to the ammunition.

They plan to either bore a new pair of tunnels with three lanes each, or build a six-lane bypass. Both options would help prevent what happened because there'd be a third lane. Coincidentally, the existing cattle chutes are in place because of slope remediation in preparation for widening the Turnpike east of the tunnel to six lanes. It also appears that trucks are instructed to use only the right lane through the cattle chutes, because the left lane is only 11' wide.

No, the instructions are to use the left lane only. This has been widely reported. Not sure where you would've read 'Right Lane Only'.

[qguy]

It's all blah-blah-blah from the PA Turnpike.  Less than two years ago, they had another incident closer to Philly during a snowstorm that closed the highway for an extensive period of time.  They said they would review things then.  Clearly, whatever 'Review' they did resulted in nothing being done.

Of course, they're also looking for excuses to abandon the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel. This just adds to the ammunition.

They plan to either bore a new pair of tunnels with three lanes each, or build a six-lane bypass. Both options would help prevent what happened because there'd be a third lane. Coincidentally, the existing cattle chutes are in place because of slope remediation in preparation for widening the Turnpike east of the tunnel to six lanes. It also appears that trucks are instructed to use only the right lane through the cattle chutes, because the left lane is only 11' wide.

No, the instructions are to use the left lane only. This has been widely reported. Not sure where you would've read 'Right Lane Only'.

The PA Turnpike often keeps trucks in the left lane through cattle-chuted construction zones. They do this when the lanes are slightly narrowed and moved to the right, with the right lane then occupying part of what was the right shoulder. Trucks are kept off the modified right lane because it can be very uneven. In some places it slopes to the right and in some places there are drainage grates with dips. This make it very difficult to keep a tractor-trailer stable. They tend to wiggle and fishtail, even when the road surface is clear and dry.

[Mr_Northside]

Also, I think the pavement in the shoulders is less thick, making it easier to rut and tear up by all the truck traffic.

[cpzilliacus]

Also, I think the pavement in the shoulders is less thick, making it easier to rut and tear up by all the truck traffic.

I agree.  Perhaps not full-depth pavement to the right. I have seen similar signage in Virginia (but not recently).

[jemacedo9]

It's all blah-blah-blah from the PA Turnpike.  Less than two years ago, they had another incident closer to Philly during a snowstorm that closed the highway for an extensive period of time.  They said they would review things then.  Clearly, whatever 'Review' they did resulted in nothing being done.

Of course, they're also looking for excuses to abandon the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel. This just adds to the ammunition.

They plan to either bore a new pair of tunnels with three lanes each, or build a six-lane bypass. Both options would help prevent what happened because there'd be a third lane. Coincidentally, the existing cattle chutes are in place because of slope remediation in preparation for widening the Turnpike east of the tunnel to six lanes. It also appears that trucks are instructed to use only the right lane through the cattle chutes, because the left lane is only 11' wide.

No, the instructions are to use the left lane only. This has been widely reported. Not sure where you would've read 'Right Lane Only'.

The PA Turnpike often keeps trucks in the left lane through cattle-chuted construction zones. They do this when the lanes are slightly narrowed and moved to the right, with the right lane then occupying part of what was the right shoulder. Trucks are kept off the modified right lane because it can be very uneven. In some places it slopes to the right and in some places there are drainage grates with dips. This make it very difficult to keep a tractor-trailer stable. They tend to wiggle and fishtail, even when the road surface is clear and dry.

The main reason isn't shoulder stability, it's construction vehicle entrances. It depends on where there are construction vehicle entrances in the work zones.  If the construction vehicle entrances are from the right/shoulder, then trucks are limited to the left lane.  But in places where the median is being reconstructed, so the construction vehicle entrances are from the left, then trucks are limited to the right lane. This was a safety study done in terms of the construction vehicle entrances, and the ability of regular trucks to slow down when a construction vehicle enters.  There was a FAQ about this on the Turnpike website years ago about this.

Most times, the shoulder is stabilized before being used for traffic.

[jeffandnicole]

It's all blah-blah-blah from the PA Turnpike.  Less than two years ago, they had another incident closer to Philly during a snowstorm that closed the highway for an extensive period of time.  They said they would review things then.  Clearly, whatever 'Review' they did resulted in nothing being done.

Of course, they're also looking for excuses to abandon the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel. This just adds to the ammunition.

They plan to either bore a new pair of tunnels with three lanes each, or build a six-lane bypass. Both options would help prevent what happened because there'd be a third lane. Coincidentally, the existing cattle chutes are in place because of slope remediation in preparation for widening the Turnpike east of the tunnel to six lanes. It also appears that trucks are instructed to use only the right lane through the cattle chutes, because the left lane is only 11' wide.

No, the instructions are to use the left lane only. This has been widely reported. Not sure where you would've read 'Right Lane Only'.

The PA Turnpike often keeps trucks in the left lane through cattle-chuted construction zones. They do this when the lanes are slightly narrowed and moved to the right, with the right lane then occupying part of what was the right shoulder. Trucks are kept off the modified right lane because it can be very uneven. In some places it slopes to the right and in some places there are drainage grates with dips. This make it very difficult to keep a tractor-trailer stable. They tend to wiggle and fishtail, even when the road surface is clear and dry.

The main reason isn't shoulder stability, it's construction vehicle entrances. It depends on where there are construction vehicle entrances in the work zones.  If the construction vehicle entrances are from the right/shoulder, then trucks are limited to the left lane.  But in places where the median is being reconstructed, so the construction vehicle entrances are from the left, then trucks are limited to the right lane. This was a safety study done in terms of the construction vehicle entrances, and the ability of regular trucks to slow down when a construction vehicle enters.  There was a FAQ about this on the Turnpike website years ago about this.

Most times, the shoulder is stabilized before being used for traffic.

It absolutely has to do with the shoulder.  This construction zone was in the median, and trucks were limited to the left lane.

Feel free to drive the PA Turnpike sometimes and view the work zone signage.

[MASTERNC]

Actually, it's both reasons (trucks entering from the work zone and the weaker shoulder).

http://articles.mcall.com/2011-09-04/news/mc-road-warrior-trucks-left-20110904_1_mid-county-lanes-work-zone

[Flyer78]

It could be for either reason. On the extension, work has shifted to the original travel lanes/median; and trucks and buses are still directed to keep left, though all truck entrances would now also be from the left.

In other construction news, new overhead signage is up for the existing exit 31, with the B portion of the exit plaque covered. It would seem much of this work is redundant with the coming AET, then again, the rate they implement things might make a very useful decade or so...

[PHLBOS]

It could be for either reason. On the extension, work has shifted to the original travel lanes/median; and trucks and buses are still directed to keep left, though all truck entrances would now also be from the left.

In other construction news, new overhead signage is up for the existing exit 31, with the B portion of the exit plaque covered. It would seem much of this work is redundant with the coming AET, then again, the rate they implement things might make a very useful decade or so...

I saw that new BGS a couple of Saturdays ago.

While such may be redundant with respect with the pending overall AET conversion in the long run; in PTC's defense & as you stated, when this design was initially proposed, it wasn't yet known when a AET conversion for the entire Turnpike was going to take place.

As expected, the new BGS has all mixed-case lettering in Clearview (everything else is, thankfully, Highway Gothic).  In light of FHWA's recent pulling-the-plug on its Interim Approval (for using the Clearview font); unless a change order is made, the other new signs in conjunction with this project will still have the Clearview font.

[jeffandnicole]

The NJ Turnpike has rebuilt or widened existing toll plazas. With EZ Pass & eventual AET it would seem unnecessary, but it probably shows that all-AET tolling is definitely a number of years down the line.

[jemacedo9]

It's all blah-blah-blah from the PA Turnpike.  Less than two years ago, they had another incident closer to Philly during a snowstorm that closed the highway for an extensive period of time.  They said they would review things then.  Clearly, whatever 'Review' they did resulted in nothing being done.

Of course, they're also looking for excuses to abandon the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel. This just adds to the ammunition.

They plan to either bore a new pair of tunnels with three lanes each, or build a six-lane bypass. Both options would help prevent what happened because there'd be a third lane. Coincidentally, the existing cattle chutes are in place because of slope remediation in preparation for widening the Turnpike east of the tunnel to six lanes. It also appears that trucks are instructed to use only the right lane through the cattle chutes, because the left lane is only 11' wide.

No, the instructions are to use the left lane only. This has been widely reported. Not sure where you would've read 'Right Lane Only'.

The PA Turnpike often keeps trucks in the left lane through cattle-chuted construction zones. They do this when the lanes are slightly narrowed and moved to the right, with the right lane then occupying part of what was the right shoulder. Trucks are kept off the modified right lane because it can be very uneven. In some places it slopes to the right and in some places there are drainage grates with dips. This make it very difficult to keep a tractor-trailer stable. They tend to wiggle and fishtail, even when the road surface is clear and dry.

The main reason isn't shoulder stability, it's construction vehicle entrances. It depends on where there are construction vehicle entrances in the work zones.  If the construction vehicle entrances are from the right/shoulder, then trucks are limited to the left lane.  But in places where the median is being reconstructed, so the construction vehicle entrances are from the left, then trucks are limited to the right lane. This was a safety study done in terms of the construction vehicle entrances, and the ability of regular trucks to slow down when a construction vehicle enters.  There was a FAQ about this on the Turnpike website years ago about this.

Most times, the shoulder is stabilized before being used for traffic.

It absolutely has to do with the shoulder.  This construction zone was in the median, and trucks were limited to the left lane.

Feel free to drive the PA Turnpike sometimes and view the work zone signage.

Why, thank you!  In fact, I DO drive the PA Turnpike often (several times monthly, mostly in the eastern part of the state), and I have seen signs for left and right sides restrictions.

I found the source I read before...not a FAQ, but a post on Allentown's Road Warrior segment, and it lists BOTH shoulder stability and work zone entrances: http://articles.mcall.com/2011-09-04/news/mc-road-warrior-trucks-left-20110904_1_mid-county-lanes-work-zone

[qguy]

It's all blah-blah-blah from the PA Turnpike.  Less than two years ago, they had another incident closer to Philly during a snowstorm that closed the highway for an extensive period of time.  They said they would review things then.  Clearly, whatever 'Review' they did resulted in nothing being done.

Of course, they're also looking for excuses to abandon the Allegheny Mountain Tunnel. This just adds to the ammunition.

They plan to either bore a new pair of tunnels with three lanes each, or build a six-lane bypass. Both options would help prevent what happened because there'd be a third lane. Coincidentally, the existing cattle chutes are in place because of slope remediation in preparation for widening the Turnpike east of the tunnel to six lanes. It also appears that trucks are instructed to use only the right lane through the cattle chutes, because the left lane is only 11' wide.

No, the instructions are to use the left lane only. This has been widely reported. Not sure where you would've read 'Right Lane Only'.

The PA Turnpike often keeps trucks in the left lane through cattle-chuted construction zones. They do this when the lanes are slightly narrowed and moved to the right, with the right lane then occupying part of what was the right shoulder. Trucks are kept off the modified right lane because it can be very uneven. In some places it slopes to the right and in some places there are drainage grates with dips. This make it very difficult to keep a tractor-trailer stable. They tend to wiggle and fishtail, even when the road surface is clear and dry.

The main reason isn't shoulder stability, it's construction vehicle entrances. It depends on where there are construction vehicle entrances in the work zones.  If the construction vehicle entrances are from the right/shoulder, then trucks are limited to the left lane.  But in places where the median is being reconstructed, so the construction vehicle entrances are from the left, then trucks are limited to the right lane. This was a safety study done in terms of the construction vehicle entrances, and the ability of regular trucks to slow down when a construction vehicle enters.  There was a FAQ about this on the Turnpike website years ago about this.

Most times, the shoulder is stabilized before being used for traffic.

It absolutely has to do with the shoulder.  This construction zone was in the median, and trucks were limited to the left lane.

I'll go with both reasons, as suggested by MASTERNC and Flyer78.

In the PA Turnpike's cattle-chuted areas, though, trucks are almost always restricted to the left lane, even when construction work is in the center median (as with the widening projects). The outside shoulders aren't unstable, they're uneven. Even with the shoulder rehabbed for vehicular travel, tractor-trailers can be very squirrelly on them

[cpzilliacus]

Tribune-Review: Details on Pa. Turnpike traffic backup show heroic efforts by volunteers

Tom Wertz's fire department pager went off at 12:20 a.m. Jan. 23 with a call from Bedford County's emergency dispatching center seeking help for hundreds of drivers stranded on a snow-clogged stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Allegheny Mountain Tunnel.

Wertz, 49, chief of Shawnee Valley Volunteer Fire Department, met at the fire hall in nearby Schellsburg with member Justin Milburn and plowed through snow in a four-wheel-drive brush truck to an access gate at mile 138.

"We had about a foot of snow already, and they said they had a backup on the turnpike. I had no idea what it was going to be like when we got there,"  he said.

What awaited them was a roughly 16-mile line of traffic that had been building since a tractor-trailer hauling chocolate triggered a 5.6-mile backup when it crashed and blocked the westbound lanes about 5:21 p.m., turnpike officials told the Tribune-Review in response to questions.

The incident drew national attention and raised questions about whether turnpike officials moved fast enough to help drivers who were stranded overnight and relied largely on volunteer emergency responders from nearby small towns who could reach the area. No one died or was seriously injured, but state officials promised to examine the response.

Exacerbating the problem as heavy snow fell, at least two tractor-trailers at 7:40 p.m. blocked the turnpike's westbound lanes as they struggled to climb the east slope of Allegheny Mountain near mile 123, officials said. Shortly after 9 p.m., the backlog grew when westbound traffic was stopped near the Kegg Maintenance Building at mile 132.2 to prevent more vehicles from entering narrow "cattle chutes" in place because of a construction project.

[MASTERNC]

Looks like the Turnpike issued an RFP for a cashless tolling system.  Such a system would start on the extension roads in Western PA (besides I-376, the Mon-Fayette and Toll 66 would be converted in six month intervals).

https://www.paturnpike.com/OUTPUT/PDFs/RFPs/100824.pdf

[ixnay]

The PTC had no scruples about not connecting its road to I-95 or forcing drivers to endure a stoplight when transitioning to I-80 or to pick their way through Morgantown getting to I-176 (not to mention making Breezewood Breezewood), but why was it willing to connect the NE Extension to U.S. 22 (or for that matter, the NE Ext. and mainline Turnpike to free I-476)?

ixnay

[PHLBOS]

The PTC had no scruples about not connecting its road to I-95

That one will eventually be a thing of the past in the next few years (at least for the future through I-95 movements).  Construction for this project has since begun.

to pick their way through Morgantown getting to I-176

There's been a direct connection from the Turnpike to I-176 since the mid-90s.

why was it willing to connect the NE Extension to U.S. 22

IIRC, the twisted (IMHO) direct connection prohibition that existed at the time was toll towards toll roads connecting to Interstates freeways, not US nor state freeways.

(or for that matter, the NE Ext. and mainline Turnpike to free I-476)?

The reasoning for PTC building a direct connection between the E-W Turnpike (I-276) and the NE Extension (I-476) is a no-brainer; both roads are part of the PTC system. 

As far as the Blue Route (free I-476) semi-direct (to get to I-276 West from I-476 North, one still needs to get onto Germantown Pike and enter at the adjacent Norristown interchange) connection is concerned; such a restriction (regarding direct Interstate connections) were likely no longer an issue, development along Germantown Pike (mainly the Plymouth Meeting Mall) coupled with complaints regarding northbound I-476 traffic being dumped on Chemical Road (prior to the Turnpike connection) were loud enough to warrant building the present connection.  I believe the Mid-County Toll Plaza is now the largest toll plaza along the PTC system (Valley Forge is the 2nd largest); the large traffic demand along I-476, no doubt motivated the size of that plaza (obviously pre-E-ZPass and AET) to be as large as it is.

[jemacedo9]

Is it a even a fair statement to say that a "prohibition" has been in place for the last few decades?  For every non-connection (I-95, I-99, I-70 Breezewood, I-81 Carlisle, I-80), there are direct ones (though substandard in many cases) with I-79, I-376 Monroeville, I-70 New Stanton, I-83, I-283, I-176, I-76 east, I-81 Clarks Summit (kind-of). 

My guess is that it seems to be that a case of priority/need-based and/or local opposition.  Most of the money is going towards reconstruction/widening (Act 44 aside).  In the cases of Breezewood and Carlisle, is there assumed massive opposition by the trucker businesses?  As inconvenient as Breezewood is, is it a massive backup routinely?  There aren't massive backups at I-80 Pocono.  Carlisle is a pain, but I'd point towards businesses there.

[Rothman]

The truck traffic on US 11 in Carlisle is impressive.  I don't know if I've ever had a real long delay through there, but it does slow you down.

I doubt if a direct connection is even possible anymore due to the large businesses/distribution centers in the immediate area.

[PHLBOS]

The truck traffic on US 11 in Carlisle is impressive.  I don't know if I've ever had a real long delay through there, but it does slow you down.

Whenever there's a car show taking place on the fairgrounds; traffic along US 11 gets very heavy.  One Saturday, I've seen it back up as far north as the I-81 interchange when the All-Ford Nationals was taking place.

[MASTERNC]

Also, I think the pavement in the shoulders is less thick, making it easier to rut and tear up by all the truck traffic.

I agree.  Perhaps not full-depth pavement to the right. I have seen similar signage in Virginia (but not recently).

Definitely seen it in Ohio in construction zones.  Sign is usually "Trucks Use Left Lane"

[ixnay]

The PTC had no scruples about not connecting its road to I-95

That one will eventually be a thing of the past in the next few years (at least for the future through I-95 movements).  Construction for this project has since begun.

I know that.

There's been a direct connection from the Turnpike to I-176 since the mid-90s.

I know that.  I drove by it a couple of times during construction.  I've used it a couple of times since it opened.

IIRC, the twisted (IMHO) direct connection prohibition that existed at the time was toll towards toll roads connecting to Interstates freeways, not US nor state freeways.

I agree the prohibition had pretzel logic.

Yes, per pahighways.com, the 22 freeway opened in 1954 (PA 100 in Fogelsville to PA 987 near ABE [now LVI] Airport) and 1955 (PA 987 to the Easton-Phillipsburg Bridge).  This antedated the 1956 Interstate Highway act.  (Now making some sense.)

The reasoning for PTC building a direct connection between the E-W Turnpike (I-276) and the NE Extension (I-476) is a no-brainer; both roads are part of the PTC system. 

As far as the Blue Route (free I-476) semi-direct (to get to I-276 West from I-476 North, one still needs to get onto Germantown Pike and enter at the adjacent Norristown interchange) connection is concerned; such a restriction (regarding direct Interstate connections) were likely no longer an issue, development along Germantown Pike (mainly the Plymouth Meeting Mall) coupled with complaints regarding northbound I-476 traffic being dumped on Chemical Road (prior to the Turnpike connection) were loud enough to warrant building the present connection.  I believe the Mid-County Toll Plaza is now the largest toll plaza along the PTC system (Valley Forge is the 2nd largest); the large traffic demand along I-476, no doubt motivated the size of that plaza (obviously pre-E-ZPass and AET) to be as large as it is.

Per Google satellite, that transition from 476 north to 276 west is free of stoplights (and I noticed the couple of at-speed E-ZPass lanes in each direction at the toll plaza).

IIRC for the first 12 months after the Mid-County Expressway opened full-length, the only direct access from same to the turnpike was the ramp to 276 east.  All movements from the Blue Route to 276 west and the northbound NE Ext. were via Germantown Pike.

ixnay