Mill Road Traffic Restrictions in Tredyffrin Township Begin March 21

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (03/04/2011)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists that the bridge carrying Mill Road (T-540) over the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County will close to traffic the morning of March 21, weather permitting, with a passenger car and truck detour in effect until November.

The $4.2 million Mill Road Bridge project is the second overhead bridge being replaced as part of the Commission's total reconstruction plan to widen six-miles of the Turnpike mainline (I-76) which traverses Tredyffrin and Upper Merion Townships. The project area begins at milepost 320 (the location of the Rt. 29 all-electronic interchange being built this year) and continues east to milepost 326 (Valley Forge Interchange). The $4.8 million Valley Forge Road Bridge in Tredyffrin Township was completed in October 2009.

G.A. & F.C. Wagman Inc., of York, Pa, was awarded the contract to replace the bridge in December 2010. The contractor anticipates the new bridge will be open to traffic before the end of the year. The bridge is located 3.5 miles west of the Valley Forge Interchange (Exit #326) and 10.5 miles east of the Downingtown Interchange (Exit #312).

Preparations for the mid-April demolition of the 60+ year old Mill Road Bridge will begin next week (March 7), weather permitting, when the contractor installs advance warning signs on the Turnpike mainline and local roads alerting motorists to upcoming traffic restrictions on I-76 and Mill Road. Message boards will be placed on I-76 alerting motorists to the upcoming work.

During the following week (Mar. 14), motorists traveling eastbound and westbound on the Turnpike should be prepared for slow moving traffic and nighttime single-lane closures between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. while construction crews place temporary concrete barrier to create a work zone under the Mill Road Bridge where it crosses over the Turnpike at milepost 322.51.

On Monday morning, March 21, the Mill Road Bridge will be closed to local traffic. Detour signs will be posted along the two detour routes approved by the township and PennDOT for the duration of the bridge replacement project expected to last nine months. Once the bridge is closed, through traffic traveling south on Mill Road will be detoured at Duportail Road (T-540) and from the north at Yellow Springs Road (SR 1016) where they intersect at the approach of the bridge.

Passenger cars will be directed over Duportail Rd., Swedesford Rd. (SR 1002), State Route 252, Valley Forge Rd. (SR 252), Valley Creek Rd. (SR 252), and Yellow Springs Road (SR 1016) to Mill Road (approx. 5.8 miles).

Trucks will follow Duportail Rd. (T-540), Swedesford Rd. (SR 1002), Moorehall Rd. (SR 29), and Yellow Springs Rd. (SR 1016) to Mill Road (approx. 9 miles).

Please visit www.paturnpike.com for additional details and maps showing the planned detour routes. Click on the Major Design/Construction Projects link, then the Milepost 320-326 Widening link to access the site.

The PTC encourages the public to stay up-to-date on what's happening throughout the project by signing up for E-Bulletins on the project website.

There will also be occasions during demolition and reconstruction of the bridge when the 14-mile section of the Turnpike mainline (I-76) between the Valley Forge and Downingtown Interchanges will be closed in both directions with off-Pike detours in effect. The first such closure is tentatively scheduled for April 11 (weather permitting) between midnight and 6 a.m. Changeable message signs and the Turnpike's Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) will be activated to provide the traveling public with updated information regarding closures and detours.

Please visit the Pennsylvania Turnpike website at www.paturnpike.com for project-related announcements updates, including detour information. The Pennsylvania Turnpike urges the motoring public to stay alert and travel at posted speed limits through highway work zone areas. Be in the know before you go and sign up today to become a Preferred Traveler. It's free and you can pick your route and your schedule to get customized e-mail or cell phone alerts when you need it.