Pa. Turnpike Schedules Open House Plans Display for Northeastern Extension Project

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (10/13/2011)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) will hold an Open House Plans Display to convey the final engineering design plans for the northern 5-mile section of the Turnpike's 11.5 mile total reconstruction and widening project scheduled for construction in 2014. The project area is from Berks Road to Wambold Road approximately one-mile north of the Lansdale Interchange. The meeting will be held Oct. 18 at the Towamencin Volunteer Fire Company, Station A at 1590 Bustard Road in Kulpsville from 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The PTC's proposed final design incorporates a variety of alternative engineering concepts developed in response to public input received from the plans display held in 2007. The meeting is open to residents living in the project corridor (milepost A26-A31) in the townships of Worcester, Upper Gwynedd, Towamencin and Lower Salford in Montgomery County.

"Since the last plans display in the spring of 2007, the engineering designs have been modified to reflect the results of the 2008 Noise Impact analysis Report and significantly reduced property impacts," indicated Project Manager Gerald Rollman. "The ongoing collaborative efforts between the local legislators, township officials, property owners, and the PTC have resulted in the integration of retaining walls for the express purpose of minimizing impacts to private properties throughout the project area."

From south to north, the boundary of the Northeastern Extension total reconstruction and six-lane widening project traverses six Townships in Montgomery County, namely: Plymouth, Whitpain, Worcester, Upper Gwynedd, Towamencin and now Lower Salford. Unprecedented growth in the suburban Philadelphia region has contributed to severe and growing traffic congestion on the Turnpike and surrounding highways in this area. Originally opened to motorists in 1957, this 11.5 mile stretch of roadway bears one of the highest traffic volumes of any four-lane section of the Turnpike, carrying 67,000 vehicles per day.

New information will also be presented regarding the Turnpike bridge that crosses over Wambold Road (SR 1058) in Lower Salford Township. The bridge, located north of the Lansdale Interchange at milepost A30.9, will now be included as part of this project – increasing the number of mainline bridges to be replaced during construction to 12.

Informational project displays and mapping will be available for public review, and representatives from the PTC and their consultant project team will be on hand to provide additional detail and answer questions.

The public is encouraged to attend the meeting. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the project area mapping and anticipated construction schedule, impacts to local roads including detours during the replacement of bridges, right of way information, traffic noise analysis, a graphic depiction of sound barrier locations and stormwater management.

Please visit the Turnpike's website for more information on the total reconstruction and widening project www.paturnpike.com/constructionprojects/mpA20toA30. The meeting facility is ADA accessible; requests for special needs or accommodations to facilitate public participation should be directed to Mimi Doyle at the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Eastern Regional Office at 610-239-4117.