Travel Advisory

PA Turnpike Advises Motorists of Possible Delays in the Lehigh Tunnel
Night-time traffic paces planned for April 11 and 12.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists traveling on the Northeastern Extension (I-476) through the north and southbound Lehigh Tunnel that they may experience delays due to intermittent, 15-minute traffic stoppages scheduled between 11 p.m. on April 11 to 1 a.m. on April 12.  The traffic stoppages, or paces, are necessary to allow crews to safely perform tunnel inspections and camera maintenance.

During each 15-minute stoppage, Turnpike maintenance will restrict Turnpike traffic to a speed of 20-25 miles an hour.  Motorists in the area should be prepared for slow-moving and stopped traffic. Work schedules are subject to change based on weather conditions.

The Lehigh Tunnel is located at milepost A70-A71 between the Lehigh Valley, Exit 56, and Mahoning Valley, Exit 74, interchanges in Carbon County.

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.

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

·        Turnpike Roadway Information Program (toll-free) — 866-976-TRIP (8747)

·        Customer Assistance Center (toll-free) — 800-331-3414 (weekdays, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)

ON THE WEB

·        TRIPTalk — free, travel-alert smartphone app; download at https://www.paturnpike.com/travel/trip_talk.aspx

·        Travel Conditions Map — live, interactive conditions map; view at https://www.paturnpike.com/webmap

·        Waze  — a crowd-sourced navigation app that provides real-time traffic conditions with input from other drivers; download at https://www.waze.com