COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE

Contact:

Name: Carl DeFebo
Phone: 717-920-7176
Fax:
E-mail:

07/24/2009

Bridge Work to Cause Turnpike Delays near Carlisle Saturday and Monday
Nighttime traffic paces planned between Blue Mountain and Carlisle Exits.

HARRISBURG, PA (07/24/2009)(readMedia)-- Motorists on the Pennsylvania Turnpike should be aware of intermittent delays with possible stoppages on July 25 and 27 as Pennsylvania State Police conduct nighttime traffic-pace operations to enable work crews to set concrete beams for a new bridge over the Conodoguinet Creek.

The paces - during which state police slow down traffic to about 25 miles an hour - will affect eastbound traffic on Saturday night and westbound traffic on Monday night.

On Saturday, six 30-minute eastbound paces will be held between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday. The paces will start near the Blue Mountain Exit at milepost 201. To get ready for the operation, crews will close the eastbound left lane Saturday at 7 p.m. near the bridge site 14 miles east of the Blue Mountain Exit. The single-lane pattern will remain until 8 a.m. Sunday.

On Monday, five 30-minute westbound paces will be held between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Tuesday. The paces will start near the Carlisle Exit at milepost 226. To get ready for the operation, crews will close the westbound left lane on Monday at 7 p.m. near the bridge site 11 miles west of the Carlisle Exit. The single-lane pattern will remain until 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The contractor, New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., is rebuilding the Conodoguinet Creek Bridge as part of a $60 million total reconstruction and six-lane Turnpike widening between milepost 210 and 215. The traffic paces allow the contractor to complete the beam placements without jeopardizing motorists or workers.

-30-