Resurfacing Project to Impact Travel on Turnpike's Northeastern Extension South of Lansdale Next Week

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (09/09/2011)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists using the Turnpike's Northeastern Extension (I-476) to be prepared for overnight single-lane closures and reduced speeds to go into effect for approximately six-miles south of the Lansdale (Exit #31) Interchange from mid-September to early November.

The Turnpike Commission determined it was necessary for the safety of the traveling public to resurface this section of I-476 and announced earlier this week that a $2.1 million contract was awarded to Reading Site Contractors, Skippack, Pa (a div. of Reading Materials, Inc.).This contract is a maintenance project and necessary due to the deterioration of the 54 yr. old roadway between Berks Road and the Lansdale Interchange. Advance signage will be installed Sunday night (Sept. 11) and work will begin with bridge deck repairs Monday, September 12, 2011 weather permitting.

The contract provides for the bituminous resurfacing of the Turnpike's Northeastern Extension (I-476) from milepost A25.6 (Berks Road) to milepost A31.1 (just north of Lansdale Interchange, milepost A30.3). This project is not part of the Turnpike's northern section total reconstruction and six-lane widening project scheduled for construction in 2014.

Work will be accomplished by milling the bituminous pavement surface, paving with superpave wearing course, various types of concrete bridge deck repairs, and installing plowable raised pavement markers and Sonic Nap Alert Pattern (SNAPS). Work also includes patching, line striping and protection of Turnpike traffic. The new roadway surface should improve travel conditions for our customers and temporarily relieve some noise from traffic for adjacent property owners.

Close proximity of this project to the current southern section reconstruction and widening project (milepost A20-A26) requires traffic control devices posting reduced speeds of 40/55 mph and message boards to be installed in both directions between milepost A26-A33 until mid-November. Because this work requires the contractor to CLOSE lanes overnight, restricting traffic on the Turnpike to one lane, ALL of this work will occur during off-peak (nighttime) hours with reduced speeds of 40 mph in the established work zone. The posted speed limits within a construction zone are enforceable and fines will be doubled for the duration of the project.

The new traffic control devices and nighttime patterns for the resurfacing project will now extend posted reduced speed restrictions and impact traffic for customers traveling on I-476 between Mid-County and Lansdale.

In the event of emergency-lane closures, the turnpike will activate its Variable Message Signs and Highway Advisory Radio System (1640 AM) to inform motorists of conditions.

Turnpike motorists can also get up-to-date travel conditions by calling 866-976-TRIP (or 866-976-8747). This toll-free number gives audio advisories for the region in which you are traveling, including delays and closures. For a snapshot of conditions across the Turnpike, including access to traffic cams, traffic-flow monitors, audio advisories and more, visit the Interactive Travel Map at www.paturnpike.com/webmap.