TRAVEL ADVISORY

CONTACT: Carl DeFebo
Phone:  717-645-2265
December 19, 2015

 

Eastbound Pa. Turnpike to Close Tonight at 7 p.m. between Breezewood, Carlisle Exits

Emergency closure needed to fix guiderail damaged in truck fire today in Cumberland County.

HIGHSPIRE, PA. (DEC. 19, 2015) — A 65-mile section of the eastbound Pennsylvania Turnpike will be closed tonight for emergency guiderail repairs between the Breezewood Exit (#161) and the Carlisle Exit (#226) from 7 p.m. until approximately 10 p.m.

Alternate-route cards will be available to exiting travelers during the closure. Motorists should allow for extra travel time of about an hour during the detour period. Expect higher traffic volumes on detour roads during the closure. 

The recommended detour for eastbound motorists: Exit at Breezewood (#161) take Route 30 west (.3 miles) to I-70 east (I-70 exit MD #26, 48 miles) to I-81 north (58 miles) to Route 11 south and reenter at Carlisle Interchange (#226).

Westbound Turnpike travel will not be impacted by the closure.

The guiderail was damaged as a result of an incident earlier today when a tractor trailer caught fire in a construction zone at milepost 221.3 eastbound. The driver was uninjured.

The length of the detour is required because smaller routes off exits between Breezewood and Carlisle cannot safely accommodate traffic volumes coming off the Turnpike.

Turnpike motorists can get up-to-date travel conditions by calling 866-976-TRIP (8747). This toll-free number gives audio advisories for the region in which you are traveling. For a snapshot of conditions across the Turnpike, visit the Interactive Travel Map at www.paturnpike.com/webmap.

The Turnpike smartphone app, “TRIP Talk,” streams audio advisories to iPhone and Droid users; to download the free app, visit www.paturnpike.com/triptalk. Users do not have to create an account, register or sign up to use TRIP Talk. The app uses your phone's built-in GPS to stream nearby advisories.

 

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