Turnpike Delays from Valley Forge to Downingtown Tuesday Night

Editor's note: the following information comes from the PA Turnpike Commission.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission reports that motorists traveling on the Turnpike (I-76) west from Valley Forge and east from Downingtown should be prepared for bi-directional single-lane closures (7 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and intermittent slow-moving traffic paces and stoppages (9 p.m. to 5 a.m.) Tuesday, May 15.  

At 7 p.m., weather permitting, construction crews will establish a single-lane pattern, closing the right lane eastbound and the left lane westbound between milepost 321-318 until the patterns are lifted by 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., State Police will stop motorists traveling westbound at Valley Forge (Exit #326) or eastbound at Downingtown (Exit #312) and begin a slow-moving traffic pace (approximately 25 mph), bringing traffic to a complete stop in advance of the work zone at milepost 319.

Motorists should anticipate the intermittent traffic paces with stoppages of no more than 15 minutes to continue throughout the night during work to erect steel beams over the Turnpike mainline at milepost 319.6.

Unsafe conditions could cause operations to be delayed or cancelled for the protection of the traveling public and workers on the project. Message boards will be activated to provide daily updates about the type of traffic restrictions motorists should expect traveling the 14-mile stretch of Turnpike in either direction between the Valley Forge and Downingtown.  

Motorists should continue to anticipate traffic delays until the end of the month; to avoid delays seek alternate routes. The work is weather sensitive and may be delayed or rescheduled.

Motorists are urged to stay alert for slow moving traffic and use extra caution when approaching and entering construction zones and obey posted 55/40 mph speed limits. Speed limits will be enforced and fines increased. In case of emergency, motorists can dial *11 on their mobile phone.