CONTACT: Mimi Doyle, 610-313-6383
PTC Public Information Manager - East

Charles Metzger, 610-205-6801
PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator
September 11, 2014
Pa. Turnpike and PennDOT begin the Next Section of the I-276/I-95 Connector Project

Construction activity expected to impact Turnpike and local traffic through fall 2017.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) report that the next phase of the PTC project to connect the Turnpike (Interstate-276) with I-95 in Bucks County is expected to get under way next week.

On Aug. 5, PKF-Mark III Inc. of Newtown, Pa. was awarded the $142.9 million contract to reconstruct and widen 2.5 miles of I-276 in Bristol Township. This contract is funded in part by federal and Turnpike toll dollars and was bid and executed through PennDOT's Engineering and Construction Management System (ECMS) on behalf of the PTC. To date, the completed and current construction contracts to connect the Pa. Turnpike with I-95 have been funded 100 percent by Turnpike toll dollars, even though some federal reimbursement has occurred in the design phase.

Construction work along I-276 will include the full-depth reconstruction and widening of a stretch of the Turnpike mainline from west of the I-95 overpass to west of the Delaware River Bridge Toll Plaza (milepost 355.7 to 358.2). Additional off-Pike work within the Turnpike's right-of-way will include the installation of stormwater-management facilities, erosion and sedimentation control measures, and the construction of sound barriers and retaining walls.

The contractor will also be performing roadway improvements near the Turnpike along Durham Road (State Route 2049) and New Rodgers Road (State Route 413). Some work will include temporary/permanent traffic signals, pavement reconstruction, drainage facilities, utility relocation and improved ADA pedestrian access ramps.

In mid-September, the contractor anticipates installing traffic control devices and temporary concrete barrier to set up a work zone in the project area reducing speeds to 55 miles per hours. This will be followed by the contractor mobilizing equipment, materials and other resources to the job site. Once established, crews will begin shoulder reconstruction on I-276 and clearing trees within Turnpike right-of-way eastbound and westbound between milepost 355.8 and 358.3. Additionally, some work will require the contractor to establish single-lane patterns during off-peak hours, restricting travel lanes with reduced work-zone speeds of 40 mph.

Two other project areas are currently in construction on I-276 between the Bensalem Interchange (Exit #351) and the Delaware River Bridge through spring 2016. The first is the reconstruction and widening of the Turnpike mainline between milepost 351.4 and 354.1 including the construction of a mainline toll plaza at milepost 352.6. The second project is the construction of an All Electronic Tolling system (highway-speed tolling) at the Delaware River Bridge plaza.
 
Urban Engineers Inc., (construction manager), Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., (design manager) and Gannett Fleming., (designer) will represent the PTC as part of the Turnpike/Interstate 95 Interchange Connector Project Management Team.

Other projects completed as part of Stage 1 included: the installation of Advance Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) on U.S. Route 1, Route 13 and Street Road; four bridge-replacement projects; the I-95 wetland mitigation site; and stream improvements on a section of Mill Creek. Additional construction activities, schedules and detour routes can be viewed on the I-95 project website at: www.paturnpikei95.com.

Motorists can get Turnpike traffic alerts and detour information 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. For emergencies, dial *11 on your mobile phone.
 

###