PA Turnpike Groundbreaking for six-lane widening project

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Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and elected officials joined contractors for a groundbreaking event to kickoff construction of a major Turnpike expansion project in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The project involved total reconstruction and six-lane widening of a 7-mile section of toll road from the Valley Forge Interchange in Upper Merion Township to the Norristown Interchange in Plymouth Township, Montgomery County. It is the Turnpike's largest project in the region since construction of the Mid-County Interchange in 1991.

The mainline widening will consist of two sub-projects separated by the Schuylkill River Bridge, which was previously widened to accommodate six lanes.

Construction is underway on the two-mile section of the Turnpike east of the Schuylkill River Bridge to the Norristown Exit. In the summer of 2005, work will begin on the five-vile portion west of the Schuylkill River extending to the Valley Forge Exit. Project costs, including design and construction for the eastern two miles is set at $31million while the five-mile western section is estimated to cost $85 million.

Another aspect of the project is replacement of two overhead bridges in the corridor. Replacement of the Route 202 Bridge began in September of 2004 and will be completed in June 2006 at a cost of $10.2 million. The Flint Hill Road Bridge replacement, a $5.1 million project, will be completed in November of 2005. Seven other bridges in the project area will be replaced as part of the eastern and western section roadway contracts.

Another phase of the Turnpike improvement, replacement of the 50-year old Norristown Interchange, will go to construction in spring of 2005 and should be completed in the fall of 2006. That project will provide 11 new and improved tollbooths (there are currently nine), state-of-the-art EZ Pass lanes, a new fare collection office and lane reconfigurations.

In addition to the "full depth" reconstruction and widening of the highway and the replacement of nine bridges other upgrades to the corridor include construction of five sound barriers, widening of the shoulder to 12 feet from a 10 foot width and replacement of the existing steel median guide rail with a 52-inch concrete barrier.

Buchart-Horn, Inc. is construction manager for the massive project, although the Norristown Interchange is a separate contract. Design project managers are Urban Engineers of Philadelphia and URS Greiner, Inc. of King of Prussia. Construction contractors presently involved include Glasgow, Inc., Glenside, PA; Buckley & Co, Inc., Philadelphia; and Driscol Construction, Spring House, PA.

The overall project is totally financed by toll dollars and is scheduled for completion in 2008.