PA Turnpike News

[vdeane]

The Mid-County toll plaza is gone. SB traffic is now (somewhat abruptly) shifted in and out of the old toll plaza area with three continuous lanes, while the former express lanes are closed. NB traffic still splits, with one lane through the toll plaza area and the other two through the express lanes.

At Valley Forge, there are now three continuous lanes on I-76 East heading to US 202, where the right lane exits. However, traffic entering from the mall now must merge twice in about 700 feet to continue on I-76.

Why are they closing the express lanes on I-476 southbound at Mid-County and shifting traffic to the old toll plaza area?

I would hope that they're reconfiguring the area so all the thru lanes can use them.

[Beltway]

The Mid-County toll plaza is gone. SB traffic is now (somewhat abruptly) shifted in and out of the old toll plaza area with three continuous lanes, while the former express lanes are closed. NB traffic still splits, with one lane through the toll plaza area and the other two through the express lanes.
At Valley Forge, there are now three continuous lanes on I-76 East heading to US 202, where the right lane exits. However, traffic entering from the mall now must merge twice in about 700 feet to continue on I-76.

Why are they closing the express lanes on I-476 southbound at Mid-County and shifting traffic to the old toll plaza area?

Stage construction as the old plazas are removed and lanes are converted to open road tolling.

[MASTERNC]

The Mid-County toll plaza is gone. SB traffic is now (somewhat abruptly) shifted in and out of the old toll plaza area with three continuous lanes, while the former express lanes are closed. NB traffic still splits, with one lane through the toll plaza area and the other two through the express lanes.

At Valley Forge, there are now three continuous lanes on I-76 East heading to US 202, where the right lane exits. However, traffic entering from the mall now must merge twice in about 700 feet to continue on I-76.

Why are they closing the express lanes on I-476 southbound at Mid-County and shifting traffic to the old toll plaza area?

The old gantries and the concrete barrier separating the express lanes and toll plaza are still there.  Given the express lanes were only two lanes, everything needs to be removed so there can be 3-4 lanes straight through.

[Flyer78]

The Mid-County toll plaza is gone. SB traffic is now (somewhat abruptly) shifted in and out of the old toll plaza area with three continuous lanes, ...

Very abrupt, and with conflicting signage about closed lanes, shoulders, etc. That should be temporary though, and at least they keep three lanes through; so it is better than the very short-lived "trial" when they put all traffic through the open-road gantry only.

Northbound, I wonder if the final layout will give more space for traffic destined for the mainline pike, which does backup now. Of course, the chokepoint there is a two lane-ramp merging to one lane before merging with I-276, so probably won't make a huge difference.

[MASTERNC]

The Mid-County toll plaza is gone. SB traffic is now (somewhat abruptly) shifted in and out of the old toll plaza area with three continuous lanes, ...

Very abrupt, and with conflicting signage about closed lanes, shoulders, etc.

Not as conflicting as the sign about a right lane closure NB, where the third lane doesn't close at all.  I get why they did that, since the middle lane used to split at the toll plaza, but I have to think that was the cause of some unusual congestion at non-rush hours heading up to Mid-County