Carl Defebo

Manager, Media & Public 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
Manager, Media & Public Relations
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
Mobile (717) 645-2265
Desk (717) 929-7176

March 17, 2006


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

URGENT TRAVEL ADVISORY

Pa. Turnpike Plans Five-Hour Overnight Closure For Demolition of Two Cumberland County Bridges

 

HARRISBURG, PA. (Friday, March 17, 2006) — A 25-mile-long stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike from the Blue Mountain Exit (#201) to the Carlisle Exit (#226) will be completely shutdown for five hours late in the evening on Saturday, March 18 and into the early morning of Sunday, March 19.

All westbound vehicles will be detoured off the Turnpike at Carlisle and eastbound vehicles will be detoured off at Blue Mountain beginning at 11:30 p.m. Exiting motorists will receive an alternate-route card — featuring directions to get back onto the Turnpike — from a collector at the tollbooth.

The shutdown — during which construction crews will demolish two overhead bridges — will be in effect until 4:30 a.m. The bridges are located at Milepost 217 and Milepost 219 in West Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County.

Motorists traveling during this time should allow an additional 30 to 45 minutes for their trip.

Although access to and from the Blue Mountain and Plainfield service plazas will be prohibited during this time, all services will remain in operation during the shutdown for those who wish to wait in the plazas.

Single lane patterns will be in effect in the project area all day Saturday beginning at 6 a.m., when crews will shut down the right lane in both directions to prepare for the demolitions. After the shut down, single lanes will continue to be in place from 4:30 a.m. on Sunday until noon, when four lanes will become available.

Motorists traveling on this stretch of Turnpike are urged to use caution and remain alert for stoppages beginning Saturday through Sunday. To get current information on conditions across the Turnpike, visit www.paturnpike.com. When on the road, tune into Highway Advisory Radio at 1640AM.

###

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