Turnpike Lane Closures in Chesco Could Last Through November

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced Thursday that resurfacing work will cause lane closures on the turnpike for several months, beginning in March. The work will take place during off-peak hours, during which time speed limits will be reduced to 40 mph and fines will be doubled.

An excerpt from the PTC press release gives the rough timeline as to when the work will move east of Downingtown (emphasis added):

The contractor will begin bi-directional milling and paving operations in the left lanes east of Morgantown (Exit #298) and west of Downingtown (Exit #312) between milepost 306-312, the week of March 4. The remainder of the resurfacing work east of the Downingtown Exit will be completed by November.

All work is taking place on the mainline (I-76) just west of the Route 29 Interchange (#320, E-ZPass only) in Chester County. The project includes milling and paving the eastbound and westbound travel lanes, wide-area resurfacing or eliminations, installation of secondary signs and Sonic Nap Alert Patterns (SNAPS) and application of new, highly reflectorized pavement markings.

The full press release from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is below:

Pa. Turnpike Resurfacing Project in Chester County Begins Next Week

Nighttime paving and reduced speeds may cause delays between exits 298 – 326.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists using Interstate 76 between Morgantown (Exit #298) and Valley Forge (Exit #326) to be prepared for intermittent lane closures with reduced speeds of 40 miles per hour beginning the week of March 4, weather permitting.

A contract valued at $8.3 million was recently awarded to Allan A. Myers of Worcester, Pa. for the resurfacing of 13 miles of Turnpike. The contractor has begun installing advance-warning signs and traffic-control devices to establish a safe work zone between milepost 304-322 in preparation for the project.

The work will be performed in stages. The contractor will begin bi-directional milling and paving operations in the left lanes east of Morgantown (Exit #298) and west of Downingtown (Exit #312) between milepost 306-312, the week of March 4. The remainder of the resurfacing work east of the Downingtown Exit will be completed by November.

All work is taking place on the mainline (I-76) just west of the Route 29 Interchange (#320, E-ZPass only) in Chester County. The project includes milling and paving the eastbound and westbound travel lanes, wide-area resurfacing or eliminations, installation of secondary signs and Sonic Nap Alert Patterns (SNAPS) and application of new, highly reflectorized pavement markings.

Construction activities that require lane restrictions and reduced speeds of 40 mph will only occur during off-peak hours. Construction-zone speed limits are enforceable, and fines will be doubled. The contactor’s schedule is weather permitting and subject to change.

Travel advisories will be posted at www.paturnpike.com and on Highway Advisory Radio (1640 AM). In case of an emergency, motorists can utilize available yellow call boxes on the shoulder or dial *11 to receive aid. Motorists should be prepared to give their milepost location and direction of travel and move their vehicles out of travel lanes if possible.

Travelers can get Turnpike traffic alerts by calling 866-976-TRIP (8747) or visiting the live Travel Conditions Map online atwww.paturnpike.com/webmap. The Turnpike’s smartphone app, TRIP Talk, streams audio advisories to iPhone and Droid users so they can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. To download the free app, visit www.paturnpike.com/triptalk