Pennsylvania Turnpike to Close Feb. 1 between Butler Valley and Allegheny Valley Exits

Five-hour, overnight closure is necessary for overhead bridge beam erection.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike alerts motorist that the Turnpike (I-76) will be closed eastbound and westbound between the Butler Valley Interchange (Exit #39) and Allegheny Valley Interchange (Exit #48) starting at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 1 until 5:00 a.m., Feb. 2. Exiting traffic should use these approved detours:

EASTBOUND TRAFFIC Exiting at Butler Valley Interchange

Follow State Route 8 south (10 miles)
Left ramp to State Route 28 north (7.5 miles)
Exit 11 to State Route 910 east (0.2 miles)
Left onto Freeport Road to Allegheny Valley Interchange (0.7 miles)

WESTBOUND TRAFFIC Exiting at Allegheny Valley Interchange

Follow Freeport Road south (0.7 miles)
Right to State Route 910 west (0.5 miles)
Take ramp to State Route 28 south (7.5 miles)
Take ramp to State Route 8 north to Butler Valley Interchange (10 miles)

Alternate-route cards will be available to exiting travelers at the Butler Valley and Allegheny Valley interchanges during the closure. Expect higher traffic volumes on detour roads during this time. Message boards will be in place to inform customers of the closure and Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) broadcasts on station 1640 AM also are being used to inform travelers.

Local traffic using Rich Hill Road in this vicinity will experience 15 minute stoppages during the five-hour period.

The closure is needed while crews from the general contractor, Joseph B. Fay, erect steel beams for the Rich Hill Road overhead bridge at milepost 46.3 in Harmar Township, Allegheny Co. Work began on the bridge March 26, 2013 and is being done in two stages to maintain local traffic during construction. The bridge is scheduled for completion in late May 2014.

The bridge replacements are early action projects needed to accommodate the future total reconstruction of Turnpike from milepost 40 to 48. Two bridges (Middle Road and Gibsonia Road) have been replaced and opened to traffic since work began in early 2013. Over the next four years, three additional bridges in the area will be replaced and the mainline will be reconstructed and widened between the Butler Valley Interchange and Allegheny Valley Interchange. For more information on this project please visit http://www.mp40-48construction.com.

Travelers can get Turnpike traffic alerts by calling 866-976-TRIP (8747) or visiting the live Travel Conditions Map online at www.paturnpike.com/webmap. The Turnpike’s smartphone app, TRIP Talk, streams audio advisories to iPhone and Droid users so they can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. To download the free app, visit www.paturnpike.com/triptalk.

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