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: Kay Jenkins Rew    (610)279-1645                     October 24, 1997

CONSTRUCTION AT THE TURNPIKE’S QUAKERTOWN INTERCHANGE

NEARS COMPLETION

 

       (ATTENTION RADIO STATIONS: VOICE ACTUALITIES RELATED TO THIS PRESS RELEASE ARE AVAILABLE. PLEASE CALL TIBS, THE TURNPIKE INFORMATION BROADCAST SERVICE AT 1-800-563-5425.)

Philadelphia, PA -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike’s $7 million construction project to expand the Quakertown Interchange (Exit #32), located on the Northeast Extension (I 476), will be complete as of Monday, October 27, 1997.

The new interchange with all new lighting will offer motorists a total of eight lanes (three entry, four exit and one bi-directional). The original Quakertown Interchange, built in the mid 1950’s featured four lanes (two entry and two exit).

Turnpike Executive Director John T. Durbin said, "the area surrounding the Quakertown Interchange has grown rapidly. The additional lanes should greatly enhance traffic flow through the interchange." Turnpike records show that well over twelve thousand vehicles per day pass through the Quakertown Interchange.

Turnpike Engineer Bernard T. Bydlon, P.E. added, "Expansion of the Quakertown Interchange is part of the Turnpike’s priority programming to update the Northeast Extension’s facilities and resurface sections of the roadway." Earlier this year, contractors completed the $11.8 million construction project at the Lansdale Interchange (Exit #31), doubling the interchange’s original size. "Our next project is the expansion of the Lehigh Valley Interchange (Exit #33). Construction is slated to begin in the spring (1998)," Bydlon concluded.

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