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| COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE | |||||
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| Nighttime Traffic Restrictions to Impact Travel Next Week between Exits 312-326 in Chester County Single lane closures, traffic paces and stoppages are required for placement of bridge beams at new Rt. 29 Interchange |
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| The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission reports that motorists traveling on the Turnpike (I-76) east from Downingtown and west from Valley Forge may experience intermittent single-lane closures, slow-moving traffic and multiple stoppages of no more than 15 minutes, starting Monday - Thursday (Apr. 23-26) between the hours of 7 p.m. - 6 a.m. until mid-May. Allan A. Myers, the general contractor building the all-electronic toll facility, will begin erecting steel beams over the Turnpike mainline on Monday night where the new overhead bridge is under construction at milepost 319. Nighttime operations to set beams over live traffic will require multiple traffic paces with 15-minute stoppages scheduled to occur Mondays – Thursdays within the contractor’s allowable window of 9 p.m. - 5 a.m., additionally, single-lane traffic patterns will be implemented between 7 p.m. - 6 a.m. Weather permitting, the contractor’s schedule is as follows:
If the contractor determines the overhead work can be performed using single-lane closures to safely complete the placement of the steel beams without jeopardizing worker and motorist safety, it will not be necessary to conduct the traffic paces and stop traffic. Message boards will be activated to provide daily updates about the type of traffic restrictions motorists should expect until mid-May. Turnpike Maintenance personnel and State Police will stop motorists traveling eastbound at the Downingtown Interchange (Exit #312) and westbound at the Valley Forge Interchange (Exit #326) then begin a slow-moving traffic pace (approx. 25 mph), bringing traffic to a complete stop eastbound at milepost 319 and 321 westbound in advance of the work zone. Motorists traveling the 14-mile stretch of Turnpike between the Valley Forge and Downingtown Interchange should continue to anticipate traffic delays for the next several weeks; to avoid delays seek alternate routes. The work is weather sensitive and may be delayed or rescheduled. Travel advisories will be posted on the project website as needed at www.paturnpike.com/constructionprojects/r29ramp and in the event of emergency-lane closures, the Turnpike will activate its Variable Message Signs and Highway Advisory Radio System (1640 AM) to inform motorists of conditions. In case of emergency, motorists can dial *11 on their mobile phone. Turnpike motorists can also get up-to-date travel conditions by calling 866-976-TRIP (8747). This toll-free number gives audio advisories for the region in which you are traveling, including delays and closures. For a snapshot of conditions across the Turnpike, including access to traffic cams, traffic-flow monitors, audio advisories and more, visit the Interactive Travel Map at www.paturnpike.com/webmap. NEW - TRIP Talk streams audio advisories to iPhone and Droid users on America's First Superhighway. To download the free app, Pa. Turnpike travelers can visit http://www.paturnpike.com/triptalk. Users do not have to create an account, register or sign up with the Turnpike to use TRIP Talk. The app uses your phone's built-in GPS to stream nearby advisories. |
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