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C O M M I S S I O N N E W S R E L E A S E |
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Contact: |
Carl DeFebo (717) 939-9551, Ext. 2934 |
October 24, 2002 |
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One-Hour Westbound Turnpike Closure Allegheny
Tunnel traffic limited to one lane each direction beginning Saturday at 9
p.m. HARRISBURG,
Pa. (Thursday, October 24, 2002)
— The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced today that the Turnpike
will be temporarily closed to westbound traffic between the Bedford
Interchange #11/146 and Somerset Interchange #10/110 from 8 p.m. until
approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. At that time, all westbound
vehicles will be diverted off the Turnpike at Bedford, and exiting
motorists will receive alternate-route directions to reenter the Turnpike
at Somerset. During the hour-long westbound closure, Turnpike personnel
will establish a crossover pattern to redirect westbound vehicles through
the eastbound tube of the Allegheny Tunnel. When the westbound Turnpike reopens at approximately 9 p.m. Saturday, traffic in the Allegheny Tunnel will be limited to one lane in each direction — with two-way traffic in the eastbound (southern) tube — until approximately 8 a.m. Sunday Oct. 27. The 11-hour shutdown of the westbound (northern) tube will allow maintenance crews to complete imperative work to prepare the facility for winter operation. The work involves replacing lighting and reflectors, repairing tiles, cleaning the tunnel’s drainage system, repainting lines, and servicing the tunnel’s fire extinguishers and carbon-monoxide detectors. “Typically, we can accomplish annual maintenance work without having to shut down the roadway,” said Director of Maintenance Robert Wallett. “However, the traffic restrictions already in place for the Somerset Reconstruction complicate the tunnel operation, and the safety of our customers and employees is paramount.” Westbound
motorists should be aware of the possibility of exiting traffic backing up
onto the Turnpike at Bedford during the one-hour closure. Both eastbound
and westbound travelers should also be cautious while traveling through
the Allegheny Tunnel after 9 p.m. Saturday, as a two-way traffic condition
will exist. “We scheduled the work for Saturday night because it’s the lightest-traveled time of the week,” Wallet said. “In addition, we are taking a number of precautions to alert customers and keep everyone safe.” A second night of tunnel maintenance work is scheduled for Saturday Nov. 2, when eastbound traffic will be switched into the westbound tube of the Allegheny Tunnel. However, a temporary shut down will not be needed in this case. All planned work is weather sensitive and could be delayed or postponed in heavy rain or wind. |
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P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 Phone: (717) 939-9551 Fax: (717) 986-9649 |
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