News from Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

For more information contact: Marianne Lindelow, 610-239-4117

Turnpike’s 6-Lane Widening Project Takes Step Forward

Community groups get first glimpse of project in Chester, Montgomery counties.

HARRISBURG, PA (06/09/2008; 1042)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is taking another step forward with its plans to widen a 6-mile stretch of I-76 in Tredyffrin and Upper Merion townships, Chester and Montgomery counties. After months of preliminary engineering activity, the Turnpike held its first Design Roundtable — formed in response to stakeholder interest in the project — to update representatives from more than 25 civic and special-interest groups.

The Design Roundtable concept arose from the commission’s obligation to address community concerns in a timely manner. Its objective is to create a forum for open dialogue throughout the design phase to facilitate the successful and timely completion of a project that meets the needs of the Turnpike traveler without compromising quality of life in adjacent communities.

“While the first meeting of the Design Roundtable was organizational in nature, the groups are evenly balanced and well represented,” said Turnpike Project Manager Kevin Scheurich. “We intend to hold sessions with the Design Roundtable to look at potential design improvements and mitigation measures in accordance with regulatory-agency criteria.”

The project team has been coordinating with the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and Tredyffrin Township on conceptual stormwater management designs and results of the geotechnical testing done earlier this year. Since those results showed unsuitable soil conditions, the design team is now reconsidering its stormwater management approach.

“The results of the geotechnical testing were not as suitable as anticipated, so we’ve been working with PA DEP and Tredyffrin officials to consider more reasonable stormwater management solutions,” Scheurich said. “The extra effort has led us to postpone a public plans display until later this year.”

This full-depth reconstruction and widening includes conversion of the existing four-lane road with a 10-foot median to an all-new, six-lane facility with a 26-foot median. It includes replacement of nine bridges and construction of stormwater management facilities and other drainage improvements.

The project encompasses six miles of I-76 from Milepost 320 (future Rt. 29 slip ramps) to Milepost 326 (Valley Forge Interchange) in Tredyffrin and Upper Merion townships, Chester and Montgomery counties, respectively.

The final design phase is targeted for completion in 2010, and construction of the turnpike mainline could start sometime in 2011.