HARRISBURG, PA (05/02/2008) -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike is advising motorists that the Turnpike will be closed both eastbound and westbound this weekend between the Breezewood (Exit # 161) and Carlisle (Exit # 226) Interchanges from 11 p.m. (eastbound traffic) and 11:45 p.m. (westbound traffic) Saturday night, May 3 until 5 a.m. Sunday morning, May 4.

The closure will enable crews to demolish a bridge that cross above the Turnpike in Lower Mifflin Township, Cumberland County.

Additionally, there will be single-lane patterns in the area between the Carlisle Interchange and the Blue Mountain Tunnel starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday while crews prepare for the demolition.

Exiting motorists will receive an alternate-route card - featuring directions to get back onto the Turnpike - from a collector at the tollbooth. E-ZPass customers should stop to obtain a copy of these directions, too.

Westbound motorists should exit the Turnpike at the Carlisle Interchange taking Route 11-north to Interstate 81-south to Maryland to Interstate 70-west to Route 30-east and reenter the Turnpike at the Breezewood Interchange where they can continue their westbound journey on the Turnpike.

Eastbound motorists should exit at the Breezewood Interchange taking Route 30-west to Interstate 70-east to Interstate 81-north to Route 11-south to the Carlisle Interchange where they can continue their eastbound journey on the Turnpike.

Motorists traveling on this stretch of Turnpike are urged to use caution and remain alert for slow-moving or stopped traffic. This work is weather sensitive, and it would have to be rescheduled in case of driving rain, high winds or lightning.

The work is part of a project to completely rebuild and widen a 5-mile stretch of the Turnpike at milepost 210-215 in Cumberland County.