Turnpike Work on Delaware River Bridge to Impact Traffic on I-276

Motorists traveling westbound should anticipate delays beginning June 7

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (06/04/2010)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission alerts westbound motorists entering Pennsylvania from New Jersey via the Delaware River Bridge that a single-lane pattern will be in effect overnight Monday from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Tuesday morning (Jun. 7-8).

The work area, extending from the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Burlington County, N.J. across the Delaware River Bridge to the toll plaza on I-276, is part of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's $3 million project to perform structural upgrades and retrofits on the bridge. The authority expects the project to continue until the end of the year.

Operated jointly by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), each state is responsible for half of the bridge up to the state line. In cooperation with the NJTA, the PTC advises customers that the contractor will close the right lane on Monday (6/7) at 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Tuesday morning (6/8) to place temporary barrier prior to closing the shoulder to perform structural upgrades on the steel bridge. This work was originally scheduled to start June 3 but postponed due to severe weather conditions.

The westbound shoulder closure across the bridge is expected to last until the end of August. Once completed, the contractor will switch construction operations to the bridge's eastbound side until the end of the year. The contractor's schedule is weather permitting and could extend this work to the next day.

The Delaware River Bridge was built by the PTC and NJTA when the PTC completed its "Delaware River Extension" between Valley Forge and Bristol in 1955. The four-lane, steel-arch bridge opened to traffic on May 25, 1956.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is committed to distributing complete, accurate and consistent travel information and providing exceptional customer service. Visit the PA Turnpike website at www.paturnpike.com for project updates. Be in the know before you go and call 866.976.TRIP (866.976.8747).