Travel Advisory

Pa. Turnpike Advises Motorists of a Six-Hour Closure on Northeastern Extension July 12
I-476 will be closed in both directions for bridge work between the Lansdale and Lehigh Valley exits.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists that the Northeastern Extension (I-476) will be closed northbound and southbound for six hours on July 12 between the Lansdale (Exit #31) and Lehigh Valley (Exit #56) interchanges. The closure is necessary for the protection of motorists and workers during construction work on two overhead bridges that cross I-476 at milepost A35.2 (Morwood Road) and A56.0 (ramp-bridge at the Allentown Service Plaza).

The Morwood Road bridge (State Route 1016) is located in Franconia Township, Montgomery County and the ramp-bridge that carries northbound traffic to and from the Allentown Service Plaza is in Upper and Lower Macungie townships in Lehigh County.

At 12:01 a.m. on July 12, all northbound traffic will be diverted off I-476 at the Lansdale Interchange (Exit #31) and southbound traffic will exit at the Lehigh Valley Interchange (Exit #56). The Northeastern Extension will reopen to traffic by 6 a.m.

Prior to the detour on July 11, traffic will be reduced to one-lane in both directions, at 11 p.m. from milepost A34.7 – A38.2 and 9 p.m. between milepost A53.0 – A57.0. The patterns will be lifted by 9 a.m. The speed limit will be posted at 55 mph until the single-lane patterns are lifted by 9 a.m. Construction-zone speed limits will be enforced and fines increased.

The Allentown Service Plaza will be closed in both directions at 11 p.m. Fuel, food and bathroom facilities will be unavailable to motorists at this plaza until the Turnpike is reopened at 6 a.m.

Pennsylvania State Police and Turnpike personnel will be positioned at the Lansdale, Quakertown, Lehigh Valley and Ft. Washington interchanges to assist motorists. Drivers can tune to radio 1640 AM for detour information and traffic conditions. Changeable message signs will also provide updated information regarding closures and detours. Motorists are encouraged to plan accordingly. For emergencies, dial *11 on your mobile phone.

Suggested Detour:

Traveling northbound on I-476: Exit at the Lansdale Interchange (Exit #31) – turn left on State Route 63 (Sumneytown Pike), left on Forty Foot Rd (0.2 mile) and right on Main Street/Welsh Road (1.7 miles). Follow State Route 63 east to U.S. Route 309 north (6.4 miles) to I-78 west / U.S. Route 309 (28.3 miles). Take the U.S. Route 309-North Exit #53 (6.1 miles) to U.S. Route 22 west (1.8 miles). This will bring you to the Lehigh Valley Interchange (0.8 mile).

Traveling southbound on I-476: Exit at the Lehigh Valley Interchange (Exit #56) - follow U.S. Route 22 east to State Route 309 south (0.8 mile) to Interstate 78 east / State Route 309 south (1.8 miles). Take the State Route 309 south Exit #60 (6.4 miles). This will bring you to the Fort Washington Interchange (40.5 miles) to continue on I-276 east to Philadelphia/New Jersey or west to the Mid-County interchange to enter the Blue Route (I-476 south).

In case of inclement weather, the overnight closures will be rescheduled for July 18-19 with times and detour information 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 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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