HARRISBURG, PA (05/15/2008; 1602)(readMedia) -- Three Pennsylvania Turnpike service plazas will be reopening over the next week - the first tomorrow in Taylor Township, Fulton County. The facilities were closed just after Labor Day last year for extensive reconstruction and modernization.

The new plazas are larger with bright, spacious food-court style layouts, more food selections, and contemporary restroom facilities and fixtures; each plaza also includes a convenience store under the same roof and all-new fueling areas.

Reopening on Friday, May 16 is the Sideling Hill Service Plaza serving eastbound and westbound traffic at Milepost 172.3 on Interstate 76/70. It is scheduled to start welcoming customers at approximately 8 a.m.

Each of the two other renovated plazas will be reopening at about same time, for the morning breakfast crowd, on their designated dates.

The next reopening will occur on Monday, May 19 at the Allentown Service Plaza on the Turnpike's Northeastern Extension (Interstate 476). Allentown straddles the border of Upper Macungie and Lower Macungie Townships in Lehigh County. It is located just south of the Lehigh Valley exit and is accessible from the northbound or southbound lanes.

The North Somerset Service Plaza serving westbound traffic only at Milepost 112.3 on Interstate 76/70 will be reopening on Thursday, May 22. It is located in Somerset Township, Somerset County.

The Sideling Hill, Allentown and North Somerset facilities are the second, third and fourth Pennsylvania Turnpike service plazas to be reconstructed and modernized under a 30-year, public-private redevelopment program involving Bethesda, Md.-based HMS Host Corp. and Sunoco Inc. of Philadelphia.

Oakmont Service Plaza at Milepost 49.3 on Interstate 76, located in Plum Borough, Allegheny County, was the first facility to be redone. It closed September 6, 2006 and reopened on May 23, 2007.

HMS Host Corp. has committed to a collective investment of $100 million to rebuild 18 Turnpike service plazas over a 5 to 7-year period. Sunoco will invest $70 million to redevelop 18 service stations and convenience stores. Plazas being redone are closed after Labor Day and reopened before Memorial Day for the busy summer travel season.