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Community Corner

Turnpike Delays Begin April 23, Continue Through Mid-May

Delays, which will occur Monday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., will continue through mid-May.

Starting Monday, April 23 and continuing through mid-May, motorists traveling on I-76 east from Downingtown and west from Valley Forge may experience "intermittent single-lane closures, slow-moving traffic and multiple stoppages of no more than 15 minutes," according to a press release from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

The closures and delays—which are due to the installation of steel beams over the turnpike—will take place Monday through Thursday between the hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The press release continues:

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Allan A. Myers, the general contractor building the all-electronic toll facility, will begin erecting steel beams over the Turnpike mainline on Monday night where the new overhead bridge is under construction at milepost 319.

Nighttime operations to set beams over live traffic will require multiple traffic paces with 15-minute stoppages scheduled to occur Mondays – Thursdays within the contractor’s allowable window of 9 p.m. - 5 a.m., additionally, single-lane traffic patterns will be implemented between 7 p.m. - 6 a.m. Weather permitting, the contractor’s schedule is as follows:

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  • Monday – Wednesday (April 23-25) eastbound only - the right lane will be closed (7 p.m. - 6 a.m.) with intermittent traffic paces and stoppages conducted (9 p.m. - 5 a.m.)
  • Thursday (April 26) the same restrictions will impact traffic in both directions. 

If the contractor determines the overhead work can be performed using single-lane closures to safely complete the placement of the steel beams without jeopardizing worker and motorist safety, it will not be necessary to conduct the traffic paces and stop traffic. Message boards will be activated to provide daily updates about the type of traffic restrictions motorists should expect until mid-May.

Turnpike Maintenance personnel and State Police will stop motorists traveling eastbound at the Downingtown Interchange (Exit #312) and westbound at the Valley Forge Interchange (Exit #326) then begin a slow-moving traffic pace (approx. 25 mph), bringing traffic to a complete stop eastbound at milepost 319 and 321 westbound in advance of the work zone.

Motorists traveling the 14-mile stretch of Turnpike between the Valley Forge and Downingtown Interchange should continue to anticipate traffic delays for the next several weeks; to avoid delays seek alternate routes. The work is weather sensitive and may be delayed or rescheduled.

Travel advisories will be posted on the project website as needed. 

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