Travel Advisory

Southbound Lehigh Tunnel Project Scheduled to Begin July 8
Work inside the tunnel to periodically impact traffic on I-476 in Lehigh and Carbon Counties.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists traveling on the Northeastern Extension (I-476) that construction work inside the southbound Lehigh tunnel will affect traffic in both directions starting at 8 p.m. on July 8, weather permitting.

Carr & Duff, Inc., of Huntingdon Valley, Pa. was awarded the $1.5 million contract in March to install a heat detector system in the roof of the southbound tunnel. The Lehigh Tunnel is located at milepost A70-A71 between the Lehigh Valley (Exit #56) and Mahoning Valley (Exit #74) interchanges.

The work will require overnight traffic restrictions, Monday – Saturday for the duration of the project, which is expected to be completed by November 2015. Motorists approaching the Lehigh Tunnel from either direction should be prepared bi-directional single-lane traffic patterns and periodic stoppages of no more than 15-minutes to allow the contractor to divert traffic into the northbound tunnel. Traffic control devices have been installed, reducing the speed limit to 55 mph in the work zone in both directions approaching the tunnel.

Message boards will be activated to update motorists of any changes to the schedule caused by inclement weather or unforeseen traffic conditions.

Motorists traveling on I-476 should stay alert when entering the tunnel and turn on their headlights. Drivers are also advised to slow down, keep an adequate distance from the vehicle ahead and never pass inside the tunnel. Customers who experience car trouble and cannot safely exit the tunnel should stay in the car, put on the hazard lights and wait for assistance. Tunnel personnel will monitor closed-circuit cameras and send help for disabled vehicles.

Travel advisories will be posted at www.paturnpike.com and Highway Advisory Radio (1640 AM) will be activated to provide travel updates.

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 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 eyes on the road. To download the free app, visit www.paturnpike.com/triptalk.

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