TRAVEL ADVISORY
CONTACT:
Renee Vid Colborn
717-831-7507
 		 June 9, 2016

PA Turnpike Cautions Drivers to Expect Heavy Traffic During U.S. Open

Heaviest traffic expected near Butler Valley and Allegheny Valley interchanges.

 

Pennsylvania Turnpike officials are advising travelers in western Pennsylvania to plan for heavier-than-normal Turnpike traffic near the Allegheny Valley Interchange, Exit 48, and the Butler Valley Interchange, Exit 39, during the U.S. Open Championship in Oakmont from June 13 through June 19. Approximately 30,000 people per day are expected to attend the U.S. Open, which is being held at the Oakmont Country Club.

A free shuttle service will be running continuously on the Turnpike, transporting spectators to the Oakmont Country Club from satellite parking locations at the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills and Hartwood Acres. The shuttles are intended to minimize congestion within Plum Borough, Oakmont Borough and surrounding communities.

“We have been working with officials from the USGA, Oakmont Country Club and other regional planning partners to help make this a safe, successful United States Open,” said PA Turnpike Chairman Sean Logan of Monroeville. “Certainly, the U.S. Open is a boost for Western Pennsylvania’s economy, and the Turnpike Commission is proud of our 65-year partnership with Oakmont Country Club.”

During U.S Open week, abandoned vehicles along the PA Turnpike between milepost 48, Allegheny Valley Interchange, and milepost 50 near the Oakmont Service Plaza, will be towed. Additional Turnpike maintenance and fare collection employees will be on hand to help control traffic and offer guidance to spectator parking. Troop T of the PA State Police, the unit assigned to the Turnpike, will also have additional troopers on duty.

The PA Turnpike Commission has assisted in transportation planning and traffic management for seven of nine U.S. Opens at Oakmont Country Club, including the 2016 event. U.S. Opens in 1927 and 1935 predated the existence of the 67-mile stretch of the PA Turnpike between Irwin and the Ohio line — known as the “Western Extension” — which opened on Dec. 26, 1951.

Motorists are encouraged to download the PA Turnpike’s free smartphone app, TRIP Talk, which allows drivers to hear traffic conditions while traveling so they can keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Using the Waze app is also encouraged; the PA Turnpike partnered with Waze to show road closures. Knowing what the conditions are up ahead will help drivers make smarter decisions about whether to stop, reroute or push on.

To report an accident or other emergency on the PA Turnpike, dial *11 via mobile phone. To learn more about PA Turnpike conditions or to contact us, use one of these resources:

 

ON THE PA TURNPIKE

  • Variable & Digital Message Signs — nearly 100 signs along the Turnpike

  • Highway Advisory Radio — 1640 AM (tune-in near interchanges)

BY PHONE

ON THE WEB

 
 

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