Pa. Turnpike plans weekend closure along part of Northeast Extension

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is warning motorists to change travel plans or prepare for a lengthy detour due to a continuous, 55-hour weekend closure planned between the Lehigh Valley Interchange, Exit 56, and the Mahoning Valley Interchange, Exit 74, on the Pa. Turnpike’s Northeastern Extension (I-476) from Friday, Oct. 14 through Monday, Oct. 17 as workers replace a bridge.

The roadway will be closed in both directions starting at 9 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. on Monday, a press release said.

The lengthy closure is needed for crews to safely demolish the current bridge that carries the turnpike over Huckleberry Road in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County at milepost A59.20 while replacing it with a new steel superstructure that will be installed.

The construction technique being used, Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC), eliminates the need for months or years of single-lane traffic patterns and other motorist restrictions by closing that part of the roadway for a limited period over a weekend.

The new superstructure, which has been under construction since March 2022, is being built near the existing bridge. The 90-foot-long bridge opened to traffic on April 1, 1957, and today carries roughly 30,000 vehicles per day, combined north/south.

For 55 hours, the PA Turnpike will implement a detour of I-476 in both directions. Motorists are urged to avoid the area, if possible, but if traveling in this region, drivers should pay close attention to the orange and black directional signs, the release said.

SOUTHBOUND DETOUR – LOCAL TRAFFIC:

Exit at Mahoning Valley Exit #74 and take U.S. Route 209 North to State Route 33 South (21.2 miles). Follow Route 33 South to U.S. Route 22 West (18.4 miles). Follow U.S. 22 West and reenter I-476 South at Lehigh Valley Interchange #56 (15.8 miles).

SOUTHBOUND DETOUR – THROUGH TRAFFIC:

Exit at Pocono Exit #95 and take Interstate 80 East to State Route 33 South (25.5 miles). Follow State Route 33 South to U.S. Route 22 West (23.6 miles). Follow U.S. Route 22 West and reenter I-476 South at Lehigh Valley Interchange Exit #56 (15.8 miles).

NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC:

Exit at Lehigh Valley Exit #56 and take U.S. Route 22 East to State Route 33 North (16.5 miles). Follow State Route 33 North to Interstate 80 West (24.5 miles). Follow Interstate 80 West and reenter I-476 at Pocono Interchange Exit #95 (25.1 miles).

This bridge replacement is part of the accelerated bridge construction (ABC) program, which employs construction methods and materials in a safe, cost-effective way to reduce the time it takes compared to traditional bridge-replacement techniques. With ABC, traffic impacts occur over a single weekend instead of nine to 18 months of intermittent traffic disruptions.

Be aware that work schedules are subject to change based on weather conditions.

To learn more about PA Turnpike conditions, use one of these resources:

ON THE TURNPIKE

• 511PA Smartphone App: real-time, hands-free PA traffic advisories
• Digital Message Signs: more than 100 boards along the Turnpike

ON THE WEB

• 511/511pa.com: live, interactive map
• Twitter: @PATurnpikeAlert

BY PHONE

• 511: dial from any PA roadway for local travel information
• Pennsylvania Turnpike Customer Assistance Center: 877-736-6727, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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