Six lanes to open on PA Turnpike in Somerset County

SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A reconstruction project is complete on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Somerset County, reopening to six lanes.

Six lanes of travel will open this week just west of the Somerset interchange as crews finish the reconstruction and widening project.

To prepare the roadway to fully open, construction crews will be reducing the westbound lanes to one lane from Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 10 p.m. to Thursday, Aug. 22 at 8 a.m. so they can safely open all three westbound lanes permanently. The same will be done for the eastbound lanes from Thursday, Aug. 22 at 9 p.m. to Friday, Aug. 23 at 8 a.m.

During those times, intermittent traffic paces will be necessary to allow some of the transformation work to be completed safely. Additionally, traffic may be restricted to two-lanes at various times during daytime hours until construction fully wraps up in November to allow for the safe completion of the final aspects of the project.

The project was just one part of the statewide Total Reconstruction Initiative that already rebuilt 155 miles of roadway. The $135 million project, which was paid for with toll dollars, began in January 2021 to bring three lanes of travel in each direction. SAI Consulting Engineers oversaw the project and New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., Inc. led construction.

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The work included moving 2.7 million cubic yards of dirt, installing several stormwater controls, including basins and rain gardens, plus building three retaining walls.

“We are pleased to be done with this project, which provides a safer and more efficient travel experience for Turnpike customers,” Brad Heigel, Chief Engineer for the PA Turnpike said. “We are proud to continue modernizing America’s first superhighway to meet the needs of the half a million passengers who drive our roadway every day.”

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