Completed Improvements

SHOULDER, CROSSOVER CONSTRUCTION CONTINUE

Preparations continue for the planned February (2010) start of reconstruction of the southbound side of Interstate 476 between the Turnpike’s Mid-County Interchange (Exit 20) and the Interstate 76 Interchange. 

Crews are finishing work on crossovers at the northern and southern end of the 3.5 mile work zone.  A northern crossover is under construction in the median south of the Turnpike Interchange near the Ridge Pike off-ramp. The southern crossover is being built just south of the I-76 Interchange.

The crossovers will be utilized to shift a single southbound “express” lane to the northbound side and back again during 2010 construction. (Note: A short southbound “express” lane already has been established on the northbound bridge over the Schuylkill River as part of preparations to improve the southbound river crossing. Go here for bridge construction status.)

Shoulders within the work zone also are being rebuilt to carry traffic that will be shifted to the edges of the highway during certain stages of reconstruction in 2010 and 2011.

Northbound, crews are reinforcing the outside and inside shoulders to make room for a move next month where three northbound travel lanes will be shifted to the right and concrete construction barrier will be set along the outside edge of the left lane to create a southbound “express” lane. The “express” lane will utilize the reinforced median shoulder to traverse the work area.

Southbound, the inside shoulders are being rebuilt so that they can be utilized to carry two lanes of southbound traffic through the work zone while the outside half of the interstate is reconstructed.

Crews also are busy stabilizing the southbound shoulder in advance of shoulder and roadway reconstruction. The area being stabilized starts at the Ridge Pike southbound on-ramp, which has been shifted slightly to the left due to the presence of concrete construction barrier along the shoulder.

A construction staging area also has been established in the infield area at the northbound Ridge Pike on-and off-ramps. Equipment and construction materials for upcoming construction are being stored at this location.

< Return to Completed Improvements list