Penn Pike to move on AET interchange at MP320/PA29

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission says it is proceeding to construction of an all-electronic toll (AET) interchange on the mainline of the Turnpike northwest of Philadelphia. The project is located near PA29 about the middle of a 14 mile (23km) long stretch of the Turnpike between the Downington (MP312) and Valley Forge (MP326) interchanges. It will provide much more direct access and egress to and from corporate/business centers in the Great Valley area and commuters on PA29.

Turnpike Chief Executive Officer Joe Brimmeier is quoted in a statement: "The decision to move ahead to construction is a significant step that will enhance safety and convenience for thousands of Turnpike customers in the region traveling to and from work each day. In addition, the interchange will cut travel times for thousands of other regional commuters and help relieve overcrowding on local roads."

Announced several years ago in conjunction with reconstruction and third laning, the new interchange has been delayed by difficulties getting agreement with locals and the National Park Service on stormwater management and noise walls.

On fringe of history

Several miles of the widening project on its north side is up against the Valley Forge historical park. This was where George Washington's army took refuge from the British based in Philadelphia in the winter of 1777-78 and where Thomas Paine's eloquent writings were read to the soldiers. Lines like: "These are the  times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

Expected to cost around $60m the interchange (IC) is a short spur east off Route 29 with new  bridging over the Turnpike and over two local roads nearby. Skewed at 45 degrees to the Turnpike it needs long span bridges over the planned six lanes of the mainline and ends in a trumpet connection to the westbound roadway. (see plan nearby)

The Turnpike Commission is proceeding to detailed design of the reconstruction and 3rd laning of the stretch east of the new interchange MP320 to MP326.

Traffic patterns to change substantially

Major changes are expected to traffic patterns to the east of the new interchange.

Modeling suggests westbound (WB) mainline traffic east of the IC in 2015 will be 32.8k/day v 28.2k without the interchange, a 16% increase.  Eastbound traffic east of the new interchange will jump by a similar percentage.

Traffic on the east facing ramps is forecast at 3,610 and 3,740/day compared to 890 and 940/day on the west facing ramps.  The increases in mainline traffic of course are correspondingly just slightly higher to the west.

The MP320 interchange is expected to reduce backups at the Valley Forge Interchange (MP326) with connections to US202 and the Schuykill Expressway (I-76) and on US202 itself. It should also decrease in traffic on other surface roads.

Construction is due to begin March 2011 for an opening in late fall of 2012.

Design consultant is STV Inc.

Tolling

Tolling in this stretch of the Turnpike is by trip - a so-called 'ticket system' after the ticket issued to cash customers on entry - so electronic toll readers and cameras on gantries over each of the four ramps at the interchange will write to transponders the start of trips and read memory of the entry point of exiting vehicles to compute tolls.

TransCore does toll systems for the Penn Pike.

see

http://www.paturnpike.com/ConstructionProjects/Route29_SlipRamp/home.html

on Valley Forge historical park

http://www.nps.gov/vafo/index.htm

TOLLROADSnews 2010-08-04