Media & Public Relations

HARRISBURG, PA (08/11/2009)(readMedia)-- Pennsylvania Turnpike motorists should be aware of intermittent delays with possible stoppages on Aug. 12 and 13 as Pennsylvania State Police conduct nighttime traffic-pace operations to permit crews to set concrete beams on a new bridge carrying McAllister Church Road over Interstate 76 in West Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County.

During the 30-minute paces, state police will slow down eastbound and westbound traffic to about 25 miles an hour on Aug. 12 and 13 between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next day. Five eastbound and one westbound pace will take place overnight starting Aug. 12 at 11 p.m., and five westbound paces will take place overnight starting Aug. 13 at 11 p.m.

The eastbound paces will start about 3 miles past the Blue Mountain Exit (#201) at milepost 204. The westbound paces will start about 3.5 miles before the Carlisle Exit (#226) at milepost 230.

To get ready for the operation, crews will close the turnpike to a single lane in each direction near the work site at milepost 220. The single-lane pattern will commence at 7 p.m. on both evenings and remain in place until 8 a.m. the following day.

The contractor, New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., is rebuilding the McAllister Church Road Bridge under a $10 million project to prepare this part of the highway for an eventual total reconstruction and six-lane widening between milepost 215 and 221. The traffic paces allow the contractor to complete the beam placements without jeopardizing motorists or workers.

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