Kathy Liebler
                        Director of Public Information


   C   O   M   M   I   S   S   I   O   N                N   E   W   S             R   E   L   E   A   S   E

          Contact: Patricia L. Bodack (412)925-5018                           April 10, 1997

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

SINGLE LANE PLANNED BETWEEN IRWIN AND SOMERSET INTERCHANGES

         New Stanton, PA -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is advising motorists that a single lane, cross-over pattern will be installed on the Turnpike for removal of the bridge extending over the Pennsylvania Turnpike at milepost 69.15, between the Irwin (Exit 7) and New Stanton (Exit 8) Interchanges.
        Traffic will be reduced to one lane each, both east and westbound, with a cross-over pattern beginning Monday, April 14 through Friday, April 18, 1997 and Monday, April 21 through Friday, April 25. Each week the traffic pattern will be set in place starting at 7:00 A.M. Monday morning and will continue until 2:00 P.M. on Friday. Two lanes will be available for weekend travel, both east and westbound. Delays are possible during morning and evening rush hours.
        Occasional traffic stoppages will be necessary during the demolition of the bridge and are expected to last no longer than 15 minutes each. Variable message boards are currently in place in the area to advise motorists of the construction.
        Motorists are also advised of the ongoing eastbound only single-lane traffic pattern installed April 1st in Somerset County, from mileposts 121.3 to 125.6, including the Allegheny Tunnel. The pattern will be in effect through mid-May of this year. On weekends, all lanes of traffic will be open.
        When single-lane patterns are in effect, eastbound delays are likely. Motorists are advised to tune into the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Highway Advisory Radio at 1610 AM for traffic updates in the Donegal area. Variable message boards are also in place well in advance of this construction zone to advise motorists of changing traffic patterns.

MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO USE CAUTION IN THIS AREA AND REMEMBER TO GIVE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE HIGHWAY WORKERS A "BRAKE".

###

         P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676         Phone: (717) 939-9551         Fax: (717) 986-9649