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Contact:  

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

July 22, 2002

WESTBOUND DONEGAL RAMPS REOPEN TWO DAYS EARLY
Planned 10-day closure is wrapped up in fewer than eight days.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (Monday, July 22, 2002) — Construction crews working on the Turnpike bridge at the Donegal Interchange (#9/91) in Westmoreland County were able to reopen the westbound on and off ramps today — more than two days ahead of schedule, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced. The closure of the westbound on and westbound off ramps at Donegal began Monday July 15, 2002.

“We are quite pleased that the contractor was able to get the job done ahead of schedule, minimizing the impact to our customers and to the local residents and businesspeople who rely on the Pennsylvania Turnpike,” said John T. Durbin, the Turnpike Commission’s executive director. “Smart planning and a remarkable performance by our contractors enabled us to finish this aspect of the project in a timely fashion. And naturally, good weather was also conducive to an early completion.”

The ramps were shut down to allow crews to demolish the eastbound (southern) half of the bridge that carries Turnpike traffic over the westbound entry/exit lanes at Donegal. Crews will now focus on constructing a new, wider structure to replace the demolished half of the bridge. Next summer, an additional 10-day closure is scheduled to demolish and rebuild the westbound (northern) half of the same bridge.

Durbin recognized New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc., New Enterprise, Pa. (general contractor), and Dick Corp., Pittsburgh (construction manager), for their outstanding efforts to swiftly complete this task.

The work is a part of the total reconstruction of the Turnpike between milepost 85-94 in Westmoreland County. The $66.8 million project involves a complete rebuild of the roadway. It marks the first time this segment of Turnpike has been replaced from the ground up since it opened more than 61 years ago.

Other work that will occur as part of this project includes a completely new interchange configuration consisting of a new bridge, new on and off ramps (both eastbound and westbound), and new lighting as well as the construction of a new third eastbound lane from milepost 89 to 94.

The 9-mile project is to be completed in the fall of 2005.

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