TRAFFIC ADVISORY
CONTACT: Mimi Doyle
Phone: 610.313.6383


June 10, 2014
Placement of Bridge Beams to Impact Traffic on Northeastern Extension in Carbon County

Nighttime traffic paces with stoppages are scheduled June 11 between Exits 74 and 95 in Penn Forest Township.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission cautions motorists that periodic traffic stoppages of no more than 20 minutes each are scheduled to occur June 11 starting at 9 p.m. on a 22-mile stretch of the Northeastern Extension (I-476) between the Mahoning Valley (Exit #74) and Pocono (Exit #95) interchanges. The stoppages are necessary for the protection of motorists and workers during the placement of steel girders on the bridge that carries State Route 903 over the Turnpike at milepost A87 in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County.

Traffic stoppages will continue throughout the night weather permitting. State Police and Turnpike maintenance personnel will stop motorists northbound at the Mahoning Valley Interchange and southbound at the Pocono Interchange and begin a slow moving traffic pace (25 mph) to the construction zone at milepost A87. Each pace will end with a complete stoppage of no more than 20 minutes in advance of the overhead bridge. Motorists should be prepared for as many as eight stoppages planned to occur until approximately 5 a.m. on June 12.

Turnpike customers stopped at the Hickory Run Service Plaza will not be permitted to reenter I-476 northbound during these 20-minute stoppages.

The contractor will also require multiple stoppages for motorists traveling in both directions on State Route 903 from 9 p.m. until 5 p.m. for up to 10-20 minutes. During this time, the steel girders will be lifted off trucks by crane and placed onto the bridge. At this time, it will be necessary for the contractor to reduce traffic to one lane. When the beams are erected, both lanes of State Route 903 will need to be closed to traffic.

Pennsylvania State Police and Turnpike personnel will be positioned at the Mahoning Valley and Pocono interchanges to assist motorists. Motorists can tune to radio 1640 AM for information on the stoppages and traffic conditions, or call the Turnpike Roadway Information line at 866.976.8747. Changeable message signs will be activated to alert motorists to the work and any changes in the contractor's schedule. For emergencies, dial *11 on your mobile phone. Motorists are encouraged to plan travel accordingly or seek an alternate route.


Suggested Alternate Route

Traveling southbound on I-476: Exit at the Pocono Interchange and follow Interstate 80 east to Exit 284 to State Route 115 south to State Route 209 south to reenter I-476 at the Mahoning Valley Interchange.

Traveling northbound on I-476: Exit at the Mahoning Valley Interchange and take State Route 209 north to State Route 115 north to Interstate 80 west to Exit 277 to reenter I-476 at the Pocono Interchange.


The project – funded wholly by toll revenues without any state or federal tax dollars – is being built by New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc., of New Enterprise, Pa. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission awarded the $22.4 million contract to build the Route 903 All-Electronic Interchange (AEI) in Jan. 2013. The E-ZPass Only Interchange (new Exit #87) is located nine miles south of the Pocono Interchange and 13 miles north of the Mahoning Valley Interchange. The project is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.

For more information visit the project website at: www.paturnpike.com/constructionprojects/Rt903AEI. In case of inclement weather, the work to erect the beams will be rescheduled for June 12-13 with times and traffic restrictions still applicable.

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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