HARRISURG, PA (Sept. 19, 2014) – The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) announced today that its North Midway Service Plaza at milepost 147 westbound in Bedford County will close at 7 a.m. on Sept. 22 for reconstruction. The PTC expects the facility will reopen next May sometime before the Memorial Day weekend.

North Midway is being modernized with updated restroom facilities and dining accommodations. Customers will notice a new facade and an expanded Sunoco convenience store with additional services.

The plaza overhauls are made possible by a 30–year, public-private redevelopment initiative launched in 2006 when the PTC finalized agreements with HMSHost and Sunoco Inc. Under the contracts, HMSHost committed $100 million to rebuild the 17 plazas, and Sunoco is investing $70 million to redevelop the service stations and convenience stores.

The nearest plazas available to westbound traveling customers during this temporary closure would be the Sideling Hill Service Plaza located at milepost #172 and the North Somerset Service Plaza located at milepost #112. Turnpike customers can also exit at Bedford Interchange (Exit #146), which is one mile past North Midway plaza, to access restaurants and fuel stations.

The Valley Forge Service Plaza in Chester County is the last remaining plaza to be reconstructed, and it is anticipated to close this winter.

Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead by calling the Turnpike Roadway Information line, 866–976–TRIP (8747) for real–time traffic alerts or visiting the live Travel Conditions Map at www.paturnpike.com. The Pa. Turnpike’s smartphone app, TRIP Talk, streams audio advisories to iPhone and Droid users so they can keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. To download the free app, visit http://www.paturnpike.com/triptalk.

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