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

October 16, 2002



TRAVEL ADVISORY

Construction Limits Exit Lanes At 
Reading, Downingtown, Norristown Interchanges

 One exit lane will be shut down for E-ZPass enhancements Oct. 16 - 21 

HARRISBURG, Pa. (Wednesday, October 16, 2002) — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced today, that due to E-ZPass enhancement work, according to the schedule below, one exit lane at the Reading, (#21/286) Downingtown (#23/312) and Norristown (#25/333) interchanges will be temporarily shut down for the next several days.  To accommodate weekday peak-period traffic, the lanes at Downingtown and Norristown will reopen temporarily during rush hour from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

All other exit lanes at Reading, Downingtown and Norristown — both for cash and E-ZPass customers — will be available during the construction.

During the lane closure, crews will upgrade the standard ticket lane to enable future conversion to an E-ZPass lane. As a result of this project and others across the system, the Turnpike will have the capacity to open more than 50 additional E-ZPass lanes by early next year.

Schedule:

            Reading Interchange – Work will start Wednesday, October 16, midnight and be completed Thursday, October 17, 6 p.m.    

            Downingtown Interchange – Work will start Thursday, October 17, 8 p.m. and be completed Friday, October 18, 4 p.m.  The lane will reopen from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.  

            Norristown Interchange  - Work will start Friday, October 18, 8 p.m. and be completed Monday, October 21, 4 p.m.  The lane will reopen from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday only.  

Motorists should be aware of the chance of delays and the possibility of exiting traffic backing up onto the Turnpike during the construction. Those traveling past the Downingtown and Norristown exits should stay in the left (passing) lane, and those who intend to exit should get into the right lane well before the off ramp.

To check road conditions, travelers can visit www.paturnpike.com before they depart or call 1-800-331-3414. To get updates while traveling on the Turnpike, tune your car radio to 1640 AM as you approach an interchange and look for notices on the variable message signs.

To help minimize delays and take advantage of the E-ZPass enhancements, the Turnpike Commission encourages motorists to enroll now in E-ZPass by calling 1-877-PENN-PASS or by visiting www.paturnpike.com.

###

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