Middletown, PA (December 3, 2024) — Last week, Pennsylvania Turnpike construction crews capped off a busy 2024 season that reinvested more than $286 million into maintenance and modernization improvements.
Projects included:
- Resurfacing 28 miles of roadway.
- Reaching an all-time high of 27 total reconstruction miles completed statewide, including the opening of Milepost 102 to Milepost 109 in Somerset County and Milepost 324 to 326 in Montgomery County.
- Completing Open Road Tolling facilities from the Morgantown Interchange to New Jersey and the Northeast Extension.
- Producing our first digital delivery bridge replacement project.
- Continuing two major bridge replacement projects at Beaver River and Hawk Falls.
- Progressing construction on two new Mon/Fayette Expressway sections near Pittsburgh.
Though orange signs and barriers come down as winter approaches, employees are preparing for the 2025 season, which begins in March, weather permitting or supply chain issues. In addition to obtaining permits and drafting plans, excavation and other work can continue through the cold months.
The PA Turnpike was America’s First Superhighway when it was built nearly 85 years ago and reconstructing the original highway to modern standards has been a key priority in recent years. The total reconstruction initiative prioritizes rebuilding the original highway to modern standards. To date, 162 miles have been remade with six lanes (three in each direction) to improve capacity, enhance safety and create better access in major corridors.
Additional projects across the system support our goal of delivering safe, reliable, customer-valued travel. Here’s where they stand:
NORTHEAST EXTENSION (Encompassing the Lehigh Valley and Scranton)
IN PROGRESS
Bucks County: Roadway and Bridge Reconstruction from Milepost A38 to A44 – This $203 million project reconstructs and widens the roadway on the Northeast Extension near Quakertown. Traffic moved onto the newly widened pavement. “Cattle chutes” or temporary concrete barrier on both sides of the roadway with no shoulders will remain until all six lanes open. Completion: October 2026.
Carbon County: Hawk Falls Bridge Replacement at Milepost 88 – This $88 million project replaces the Hawk Falls Bridge with a new steel arch bridge over Mud Run, realigns the Northeast Extension onto the new bridge and builds a new structure over State Route 534. Completion: 2026
COMPLETED
Carbon County: Overhead Bridge Replacement at Milepost A83 – This $5.6 million project replaced Hatchery Road Bridge over the Northeast Extension. In a PA Turnpike first, it used digital delivery – three-dimensional, intelligent models – for contract plans and for bidding. Final clean-up work will take place in 2025.
EAST (Encompassing the Philadelphia region and lower Northeast Extension)
IN PROGRESS
Montgomery County: Roadway and Bridge Reconstruction from Milepost 312 to 316 –Reconstructs and widens the area to six lanes, modernizes and repaves the Downingtown Interchange and builds 12 retaining walls. Contractor partnerships put the project ahead of schedule. Completion: June 2027.
Bucks County: I-95 Section D-30 – Occurring west of the I-95 interchange, this segment, currently totaling $64 million, is part of the broader I-95 interchange project. It includes replacing the Neshaminy Creek bridge, road reconstruction and six-lane widening. Completion: October 2026.
COMPLETED
ORT Gantry Construction Morgantown to New Jersey – This project consists of Open Road Tolling Gantries from Morgantown to the Delaware River Bridge and the entire length of the Northeast Extension totaling 19 sites. This project collectively cost approximately $53 million.
Montgomery County: Roadway and Bridge Reconstruction from Milepost 324 to 326 – This $124 million project reconstructed and extended six-lane widening through the Valley Forge Interchange and built a new bridge over U.S. Route 422. In November, travel opened in all lanes. Basin conversions and clean-up work will be finished in spring 2025 with no further, long-term traffic restrictions planned.
CENTRAL
IN PROGRESS
Bedford County: Roadway and Bridge Reconstruction from Milepost 126 to 131 – Reconstructs and widens the roadway to six lanes and includes the PA Turnpike’s only clear noise wall panels, allowing unobstructed views of New Baltimore’s historic St. John the Baptist Church. “Cattle chutes” will manage traffic through the area. Completion: Summer 2026.
Sideling Hill Service Plaza Truck Parking Expansion – Increases eastbound and westbound parking areas, adds a pavilion and bike stations for those accessing hiking trails, including the Old PA Pike Trail. Completion: May 2025, with minor traffic restrictions in the plaza as needed.
Westmoreland to Cumberland County: Fiber Optic Network Construction Milepost 75 to 236 – This $164 million design-build project continues fiber optic installation from New Stanton to Gettysburg Pike, creating a network spanning from the New Jersey line and up the entire Northeast Extension. It supports future initiatives and Open Road Tolling conversion. Completion: December 2025.
Westmoreland to Cumberland County: Open Road Tolling Milepost 75 to 180 – This $26 million project constructs five Open Road Tolling gantries, eliminating the need for interchange toll booths. Completion: January 2026.
Fulton to Cumberland County: Open Road Tolling Milepost 180 to 236 – This $18 million project constructs four open road tolling gantries, eliminating the need for interchange toll booths. Completion: May 2025.
Cumberland to Berks County: Open Road Tolling Mileposts 236 to 286 – This $14 million project constructs four open road tolling gantries, eliminating the need for interchange toll booths. Completion: October 2025.
COMPLETED
Huntingdon County: Tuscarora Tunnel Rehabilitation – This $119 million rehabilitation of the 1940s-era tunnel included new lighting, paving, drainage repairs and numerous operational upgrades. Completion: Within 30 days, following final systems tests.
WEST
IN PROGRESS
Allegheny County: Mon/Fayette Expressway Sections A1 and A2 – Northward expansion includes a new four-lane concrete toll road and interchange at Camp Hollow Road in West Mifflin Borough, Allegheny County. Completion: 2026, with local road detours anticipated.
Beaver County: Beaver River Bridge Milepost 12 to 14 – Replaces the Beaver River Bridge, raises the road by more than 20 feet, reconfigures the Beaver Valley Interchange and reconstructs a portion of mainline roadway. “Cattle chutes” will control mainline traffic, with short-term closures at the interchange. Completion: Late 2027.
Ohio Line to Westmoreland County: Fiber Optic Network Construction Milepost 0 to 75 – This $104 million design-build project continues fiber optic installation from Ohio to New Stanton, including the western extensions, creating a network spanning from the New Jersey line and up the entire Northeast Extension. It supports future initiatives and Open Road Tolling conversion. Completion: December 2025.
Lawrence to Westmoreland County: Open Road Tolling Milepost 2 to 75 – This $27 million project constructs five Open Road Tolling gantries, eliminating the need for traditional toll booths. Completion: November 2025.
COMPLETED
Somerset County: Roadway and Bridge Reconstruction from Milepost 102 to 109 – This $138 million project reconstructed and widened the roadway to six lanes, including realignment to eliminate sharp curves.
A national transportation leader, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is the second largest tolling facility in the United States with the most miles and offers 24-7 roadside assistance, a dedicated maintenance force, 17 service plazas for safety and convenience, and a dedicated State Police Troop. The PA Turnpike proudly works hard each day to support the roughly 550,000 daily customers who choose to use our roadway for a variety of reasons, including convenience, value and safety. Our 1,400-person local workforce is unified through one mission; to operate a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce. For more information about PTC’s mission and projects, please visit Home | PA Turnpike.
###
NOTE: Video of the MP 102-109 project can be found here. Photos of various projects can be found here. Photos of various projects can be found here.
Media Contacts: Marissa Orbanek, Crispin Havener