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PA Turnpike News

Started by mightyace, February 16, 2009, 05:29:14 PM

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CentralPAGal

Clinched:
I: 83, 97, 176, 180 (PA), 270 (MD), 283, 395 (MD), 470 (OH-WV), 471, 795 (MD)
Traveled:
I: 70, 71, 75, 76 (E), 78, 79, 80, 81, 86 (E), 95, 99, 270 (OH), 275 (KY-IN-OH), 376, 495 (MD-VA), 579, 595 (MD), 695 (MD)
US: 1, 9, 11, 13, 15, 22, 25, 30, 40, 42, 50, 113, 119, 127, 209, 220, 222, 301


ARMOURERERIC

It appears that the MP40-48 reconstruction/widening is substantially complete.  I hope the PTC moves on to another mainline project, I think Irwin to 376 needs it more than the Warrendale booths to Cranberry, but we will see.  I am concerned that this will be it for awhile.

briantroutman

Quote from: ARMOURERERIC on November 18, 2019, 09:52:32 PM
I hope the PTC moves on to another mainline project, I think Irwin to 376 needs it...

That section is in the works. The PTC recently purchased Monroeville's Bel-Aire Community Pool for the upcoming widening and reconstruction between Monroeville and Irwin.

cpzilliacus

Quote from: ARMOURERERIC on November 18, 2019, 09:52:32 PM
It appears that the MP40-48 reconstruction/widening is substantially complete.  I hope the PTC moves on to another mainline project, I think Irwin to 376 needs it more than the Warrendale booths to Cranberry, but we will see.  I am concerned that this will be it for awhile.

It might be less of a while if the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was not required  by Acts 44 and 89 to turn over to PennDOT $450 million every year to be then given to transit operators around the state, starting with SEPTA and the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

Beltway

https://www.montcopa.org/1758/Draft-Maps

PA Turnpike
Proposed Interchange Designs

Valley Forge Interchange Modernization
Potential Henderson Road Interchange
Potential Lafayette/Ridge Interchange
Fort Washington (PA 309) Interchange Modernization
Completion of Virginia Drive Interchange
Willow Grove (US 611) Interchange Modernization
Potential Welsh Road (PA 63) Interchange
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)

ARMOURERERIC


Roadsguy

Has Montgomery County and/or the PTC made more noise about those designs recently, or did you just dig those up again on the county's site? I saw those a while ago and haven't heard much since. The designs don't seem to have changed.
Mileage-based exit numbering implies the existence of mileage-cringe exit numbering.

jeffandnicole

Quote from: Beltway on November 26, 2019, 11:59:28 PM
https://www.montcopa.org/1758/Draft-Maps

PA Turnpike
Proposed Interchange Designs

Valley Forge Interchange Modernization
Potential Henderson Road Interchange
Potential Lafayette/Ridge Interchange
Fort Washington (PA 309) Interchange Modernization
Completion of Virginia Drive Interchange
Willow Grove (US 611) Interchange Modernization
Potential Welsh Road (PA 63) Interchange

I only looked at the Willow Grove Interchange, but wow.  That interchange between the toll plaza and 611 is tight already.  This engineering company thinks that making tighter curves mere feet from the toll plaza, an exit ramp on the curve, and a tighter radii on the loops is a good idea?  I know that it's tough to work within the confines of the existing available area, along with trying to wedge in new bridges and ramps while maintaining traffic on the old infrastructure, but this is just going to create more problems rather than provide a solution.

74/171FAN

Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 27, 2019, 06:08:36 AM
Quote from: Beltway on November 26, 2019, 11:59:28 PM
https://www.montcopa.org/1758/Draft-Maps

PA Turnpike
Proposed Interchange Designs

Valley Forge Interchange Modernization
Potential Henderson Road Interchange
Potential Lafayette/Ridge Interchange
Fort Washington (PA 309) Interchange Modernization
Completion of Virginia Drive Interchange
Willow Grove (US 611) Interchange Modernization
Potential Welsh Road (PA 63) Interchange

I only looked at the Willow Grove Interchange, but wow.  That interchange between the toll plaza and 611 is tight already.  This engineering company thinks that making tighter curves mere feet from the toll plaza, an exit ramp on the curve, and a tighter radii on the loops is a good idea?  I know that it's tough to work within the confines of the existing available area, along with trying to wedge in new bridges and ramps while maintaining traffic on the old infrastructure, but this is just going to create more problems rather than provide a solution.

I hope these interchange concepts get redesigned as part of the plan to go AET.  Honestly the Willow Grove one makes the most sense.  (I would have thought that Montgomery County at least would remember that US 611 was decommissioned almost 50 years ago.)
I am now a PennDOT employee.  My opinions/views do not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of PennDOT.

Beltway

#2209
Quote from: Roadsguy on November 27, 2019, 04:46:12 AM
Has Montgomery County and/or the PTC made more noise about those designs recently, or did you just dig those up again on the county's site? I saw those a while ago and haven't heard much since. The designs don't seem to have changed.
I think they are from 2015, so other than Lafayette Street I don't think there is much recent activity.
https://www.patpconstruction.com/lafayettestreet/default.aspx

I have long lamented the fact that there is such wide interchange spacing on a section of the Turnpike that serves as a northern beltline for the Philadelphia area, an average of 8 mile spacing.

Anything they can do to add more interchanges would be a real help for local traffic access, so it is good to see that some preliminary designs are being derived.

Valley Forge is a real chokepoint with all local traffic to have to pass thru a segment of I-76, so that local scheme would be a real help; it is tight but it looks feasible.
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)

ekt8750

Quote from: 74/171FAN on November 27, 2019, 08:14:53 AM
I hope these interchange concepts get redesigned as part of the plan to go AET.

They are. All the plans are marked as such.

The Ghostbuster

Are they still planning to extend State Highway 43 northward from its present terminus in 2021?

PAHighways

That is the plan, but instead it will head towards Monroeville only.

SM-G965U


Alps

Quote from: PAHighways on November 27, 2019, 11:53:40 AM
That is the plan, but instead it will head towards Monroeville only.

Wasn't the original plan the US 30/PA 8 interchange?

PAHighways



Quote from: Alps on November 27, 2019, 08:39:46 PM
Wasn't the original plan the US 30/PA 8 interchange?

It was to originally split near Duquesne, with 43 following the Monongahela to Pittsburgh and 576 continuing northeast to Monroeville. 

There were other expressways planed over the years that would have crossed or terminated at the Parkway, but none at the Ardmore Boulevard interchange.

SM-G965U


PHLBOS

Quote from: ekt8750 on November 27, 2019, 11:12:48 AM
Quote from: 74/171FAN on November 27, 2019, 08:14:53 AM
I hope these interchange concepts get redesigned as part of the plan to go AET.
They are. All the plans are marked as such.
Should PTC's AET conversion be done in a similar fashion that MassDOT converted the Mass Pike/I-90 (AET gantries only along the mainline between interchanges); many of those proposed mods to the existing interchanges should be redesigned/configured.  If tolls are no longer charged/collected at the interchanges; such would allow for more streamlined redesigns.
GPS does NOT equal GOD

cpzilliacus

Quote from: PHLBOS on December 02, 2019, 09:12:50 AM
Quote from: ekt8750 on November 27, 2019, 11:12:48 AM
Quote from: 74/171FAN on November 27, 2019, 08:14:53 AM
I hope these interchange concepts get redesigned as part of the plan to go AET.
They are. All the plans are marked as such.
Should PTC's AET conversion be done in a similar fashion that MassDOT converted the Mass Pike/I-90 (AET gantries only along the mainline between interchanges); many of those proposed mods to the existing interchanges should be redesigned/configured.  If tolls are no longer charged/collected at the interchanges; such would allow for more streamlined redesigns.

I wonder if PTC wants to do that, since for political reasons, they probably want to keep the deficient interchanges at places like Bedford, Somerset, Breezewood, Carlisle, Denver, Allentown, Pocono and Wyoming as they are.
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

cl94

Quote from: cpzilliacus on December 02, 2019, 05:22:01 PM
I wonder if PTC wants to do that, since for political reasons, they probably want to keep the deficient interchanges at places like Bedford, Somerset, Breezewood, Carlisle, Denver, Allentown, Pocono and Wyoming as they are.

A couple of those would be hard to fully fix without major property impacts (notably Bedford), but others (I'm looking at you, Breezewood) would be relatively easy. Allentown at least has a limited-access connection via 22/309.
Please note: All posts represent my personal opinions and do not represent those of my employer or any of its partner agencies.

Travel Mapping (updated weekly)

rickmastfan67

Quote from: cpzilliacus on December 02, 2019, 05:22:01 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on December 02, 2019, 09:12:50 AM
Quote from: ekt8750 on November 27, 2019, 11:12:48 AM
Quote from: 74/171FAN on November 27, 2019, 08:14:53 AM
I hope these interchange concepts get redesigned as part of the plan to go AET.
They are. All the plans are marked as such.
Should PTC's AET conversion be done in a similar fashion that MassDOT converted the Mass Pike/I-90 (AET gantries only along the mainline between interchanges); many of those proposed mods to the existing interchanges should be redesigned/configured.  If tolls are no longer charged/collected at the interchanges; such would allow for more streamlined redesigns.

I wonder if PTC wants to do that, since for political reasons, they probably want to keep the deficient interchanges at places like Bedford, Somerset, Breezewood, Carlisle, Denver, Allentown, Pocono and Wyoming as they are.

There might be enough space to turn the Pocono one into a SPUI @ PA-940.  Because I'm not sure they'd want to create a whole new interchange with C/D lanes on I-80 just so they can keep the access to PA-940 on I-80.  It's that or they'd have to make the C/D lanes on I-476 and make them free so I-80 can still access PA-940.

vdeane

Isn't Wyoming Valley already slated for replacement as part of the "Scranton Beltway" project?
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

cpzilliacus

#2220
Quote from: vdeane on December 02, 2019, 08:18:56 PM
Isn't Wyoming Valley already slated for replacement as part of the "Scranton Beltway" project?

Never clear to me if this was a serious proposal (though it makes some sense, since there's plenty of spare capacity on I-476, as long as the mess at Clark's Summit (I-476 Exit 131) is corrected).

Has it even gone to preliminary engineering?
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

74/171FAN

Quote from: cpzilliacus on December 03, 2019, 07:31:26 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 02, 2019, 08:18:56 PM
Isn't Wyoming Valley already slated for replacement as part of the "Scranton Beltway" project?

Never clear to me if this was a serious proposal (though it makes some sense, since there's plenty of spare capacity on I-476, as long as the mess at Clark's Summit (I-476 Exit 131) is corrected).

Has it even go to preliminary engineering?

Yes, it is serious and moving forward.

The website for it is here:  https://www.patpconstruction.com/scrantonbeltway/default.aspx .
I am now a PennDOT employee.  My opinions/views do not necessarily reflect the opinions/views of PennDOT.

Rothman

Quote from: 74/171FAN on December 03, 2019, 08:11:30 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on December 03, 2019, 07:31:26 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 02, 2019, 08:18:56 PM
Isn't Wyoming Valley already slated for replacement as part of the "Scranton Beltway" project?

Never clear to me if this was a serious proposal (though it makes some sense, since there's plenty of spare capacity on I-476, as long as the mess at Clark's Summit (I-476 Exit 131) is corrected).

Has it even go to preliminary engineering?

Yes, it is serious and moving forward.

The website for it is here:  https://www.patpconstruction.com/scrantonbeltway/default.aspx .
Eh..."developing plans" can be a far cry from actually moving forward.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

jeffandnicole

Quote from: Rothman on December 04, 2019, 11:15:38 AM
Quote from: 74/171FAN on December 03, 2019, 08:11:30 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on December 03, 2019, 07:31:26 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 02, 2019, 08:18:56 PM
Isn't Wyoming Valley already slated for replacement as part of the "Scranton Beltway" project?

Never clear to me if this was a serious proposal (though it makes some sense, since there's plenty of spare capacity on I-476, as long as the mess at Clark's Summit (I-476 Exit 131) is corrected).

Has it even go to preliminary engineering?

Yes, it is serious and moving forward.

The website for it is here:  https://www.patpconstruction.com/scrantonbeltway/default.aspx .
Eh..."developing plans" can be a far cry from actually moving forward.

The next tab there: https://www.patpconstruction.com/scrantonbeltway/detail.aspx , is probably more important, which shows construction won't begin until 2022.

But the most important link and document on the PTC website is the actual Capital Plan, which shows the budget for the upcoming 10 years.  The current plan, https://www.paturnpike.com/pdfs/business/FY2020_Capital_Plan.pdf , reveals on Page 6 that funding for this project is continuing, and does confirm that prelim engineering is underway, and based on the costs the project is scheduled to begin in FY 2023, which could mean Calendar Year 2022 (I think their FY is July - June).

Beltway

Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 04, 2019, 11:46:56 AM
Quote from: Rothman on December 04, 2019, 11:15:38 AM
Eh..."developing plans" can be a far cry from actually moving forward.
The next tab there: https://www.patpconstruction.com/scrantonbeltway/detail.aspx , is probably more important, which shows construction won't begin until 2022.
But the most important link and document on the PTC website is the actual Capital Plan, which shows the budget for the upcoming 10 years.  The current plan, https://www.paturnpike.com/pdfs/business/FY2020_Capital_Plan.pdf , reveals on Page 6 that funding for this project is continuing, and does confirm that prelim engineering is underway, and based on the costs the project is scheduled to begin in FY 2023, which could mean Calendar Year 2022 (I think their FY is July - June).
It would be nice to see cost estimates, but they might not be quite there yet --

Preliminary Engineering: Spring 2019 - Fall 2020
Open House Plans Display - Fall 2020
http://www.roadstothefuture.com
http://www.capital-beltway.com

Baloney is a reserved word on the Internet
    (Robert Coté, 2002)



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