Kathy Liebler

Manager, Public Affairs & Media Relations


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

Contact:  

Carl DeFebo, 717-939-9551, ext. 2934

February 14, 2002

 

Pennsylvania TURNPIKE COMMISSION 
APPROVES DESIGN FOR ROUTE 29 SLIP RAMPS

HARRISBURG, PA -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has approved $2.5 million in expenditures for preliminary and final design of the Route 29 slip ramps located near milepost 319, seven miles east of the Downingtown Interchange, Chester County.       

The E-ZPass only ramps will provide four traffic movements, both eastbound and westbound entry and exit ramps.  These improvements will provide customers with convenient access to and from such business parks as the Great Valley Corporate Center, the Commons at Great Valley, Atwater and business districts in Malvern and Paoli.

Turnpike Executive Director John Durbin called the action “a significant step toward the enhancement of customer service for thousands of Turnpike customers in southeast Pennsylvania who use our road each day traveling to and from work.  The ramps will considerably reduce travel time for our customers and address traffic congestion in the Route 29-corridor,” he said. 

Turnpike officials said the project design will take about 18 to 24 months followed by a minimum of two years for construction.  The project will include the building of three bridges -- over the Turnpike, over Yellow Springs Road and over Atwater Drive and the construction of a culvert and several retaining walls.  The construction area will cover approximately one mile along the Turnpike located in three separate Chester County municipalities, Charlestown Township, East Whiteland Township and Tredyffrin Township.   

Durbin said the ramps would reduce traffic congestion at the Valley Forge Interchange #24, at the I-76/Route 202 interchange and on Route 202 itself, and will contribute to an overall decrease in traffic on Route 29 in the vicinity of Swedesford Road and Matthews Road, and on Route 401 and Phoenixville Pike, west of Route 29.  He added that the ramps could be used as access points for emergency vehicles and for traffic control during emergency conditions.  

The Commission’s action follows a two-year long public involvement process that involved business and industry, elected officials and citizens in the project’s development.  Durbin said, “On behalf of the Turnpike Commission, I want to thank the members of the Citizens Advisory Committee who convened ten times over the past two years to discuss issues and concerns on behalf of their communities.  We appreciate the time and energy they’ve invested in this effort and have taken steps to respond to their comments and views.”

He specifically mentioned the Turnpike Commission’s modification of one of the original project concepts so that slip ramp traffic will intersect further south with Route 29 to better serve the Great Valley Corporate Center.  In addition a separate ramp will be constructed to serve the new Atwater development.

Durbin emphasized that the public involvement process would continue as the Turnpike Commission proceeds with the final design of the slip ramps.   “We value the opinions of the Citizens Advisory Committee.  The members represent their communities, so it is absolutely imperative that we hear and respond to their concerns and issues.”

Serving as design consultant for the Route 29 slip ramp is STV, Inc. of Douglassville.  The company is also design consultant for the total reconstruction project from the Downingtown to Valley Forge Interchanges, (milepost 312 to 326).   

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