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:  

Kay Jenkins Rew
610-292-3788
email: krew@paturnpike.com

November 16, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PA TURNPIKE CLOSED BETWEEN THE
VALLEY FORGE AND NORRISTOWN INTERCHANGES FOR 5 HOURS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING

 

Philadelphia, PA – The Pennsylvania Turnpike is advising motorists that on Sunday morning, November 21, between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., the Turnpike will be CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC between the Valley Forge and Norristown Interchanges while construction crews remove structural steel from the existing Route 202 Bridge that crosses over the Turnpike at milepost 328.

MOTORISTS CAN TAKE THE FOLLOWING DETOURS:

WESTBOUND TRAFFIC should exit at the Norristown (Exit #333) or Mid-County (Exit #20) Interchange and reenter the Turnpike system at the Valley Forge Interchange continuing their westbound journey. From the Norristown or Mid-County Interchange take Interstate 476-south to Exit 16 and follow the signs to Interstate 76-west/Valley Forge. Continue on Interstate 76-west to the Valley Forge Interchange (Exit #326).

EASTBOUND TRAFFIC should exit at the Valley Forge Interchange (Exit #326) and reenter the Turnpike system at the Mid-County Interchange (Exit # 20). At the Valley Forge Interchange, take Interstate 76-east to Interstate 476-north to the Mid-County Interchange (Exit #20). Traffic can proceed north (I-476) or east (I-276) from the Mid-County Interchange.

SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC FROM THE NORTHEASTERN EXTENTION can exit the Turnpike at either the Mid-County (Exit #20) or Norristown (Exit #333) Interchanges. From the Norristown or Mid-County Interchange take Interstate 476-south to Exit 16 and follow the signs to Interstate 76-west/Valley Forge. Continue on Interstate 76-west to the Valley Forge Interchange (Exit #326).

While the structural steel is being removed (1 a.m. to 6 a.m.), traffic on and around the Route 202 bridge in King of Prussia will be reduced to varying single lane patterns. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The steel removal is part of the Turnpike’s $150 million six-lane widening and expansion project. The roadway between the Norristown (Exit #333 in Plymouth Township) and Valley Forge (Exit # 326 in Upper Merion Township) is the Turnpike’s largest expansion project in Southeastern Pennsylvania since the construction of the Mid-County Interchange (Exit #20) in 1991.

Originally opened to motorists in 1953, this crucial stretch of highway bears one of the highest traffic volumes of any four-lane section of the Turnpike, carrying 64,000 vehicles daily with traffic projected to reach 72,000 vehicles per day by 2010.

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