Public Invited to Turnpike Open House for Update on Six-Lane Widening Project West of Valley Forge Exit

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (11/10/2010)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will hold a Project Update Open House to show revised engineering design plans for the total reconstruction and six-lane widening of I-76 from Milepost 320 (future Route 29 All-Electronic Interchange) to Milepost 326 (Valley Forge Interchange) in Chester and Montgomery Counties. This meeting is open to the public.

The Plans Display will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at The Clarion Hotel (Valley Forge Ballroom), 480 N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia, PA.

Construction of the Milepost 320-326 project - with an estimated cost of $200 million - is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2013 with completion in late 2015. It is part of the Turnpike's $2 billion total-reconstruction program begun in 1999 and funded entirely by toll revenues, under which more than 70 miles of roadway have been reconstructed.

Since the previous Open House in January 2009, Turnpike personnel and consultants have worked closely with DEP, the Chester County Conservation District, legislators, township officials and community groups to address noise and environmental concerns brought up at that time.

Informational project displays and mapping will be available for review and representatives from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, its consultant team and community members from the project's Design Roundtable will be on hand to provide additional detail and answer questions.

The total reconstruction and six-lane widening project is located primarily in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, with a small part in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County. Unprecedented growth in the suburban Philadelphia region has contributed to growing congestion on the Turnpike and surrounding highways.

Additional project details will be available at the meeting, and the public is encouraged to attend. Residents may contact Mimi Doyle at the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Eastern Regional Office at 610-239-4117 for more information. The meeting facility is ADA accessible; however, requests for special needs or accommodations to facilitate public participation should be directed to Mimi Doyle. Project updates will continue to be posted on the Turnpike's website at www.paturnpike.com