Turnpike Bridge on 611 Construction Starting this Month

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists that construction will begin this month to replace the bridge that carries I-276 traffic over Easton Road (State Route 611) in Upper Moreland Township.

The bridge is located on the Turnpike mainline at milepost 342.7, approximately 0.3 miles west of the Willow Grove (Exit #343) interchange. Construction on I-276 will be completed in three stages to maintain two lanes of traffic in both directions during construction.

Loftus Construction, Inc. of Cinnaminson, NJ. was awarded the $11.3 million contract to replace the 58 year- old bridge in October 2011. Weather permitting, the contractor will begin installing the long-term traffic -control signs this week, establishing a safe work zone on I-276 between milepost 340-344 and on

Easton Road between Fitzwatertown and Sycamore Roads.

The overhead bridge is on Easton Road is located between Maryland and Wyandotte Roads, approximately mile south of the on/off ramps to the Willow Grove interchange.

During each phase of the demolition the existing bridge and the placement of the beams for the new superstructure a PennDOT and township approved detour of traffic on Route 611 will be required. The overnight detour may be implemented between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday night.

Traffic on Easton Road will follow a designated route using West Road, York Road and Fitzwatertown Road.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists traveling eastbound and westbound on E-276 approaching the Willow Grove interchange to be prepared for the speed limit to be reduced to 55 mph through the work zone. Because some work requires the contractor to restrict mainline traffic, ALL work will occur overnight with reduced work­zone speeds of 40 mph.

Construction-zone speed limits are enforceable, and fines will be doubled. Motorists are urged to use caution and obey posted speed limits.

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In the event of emergency-lane closures, the Turnpike will activate its Variable Message Signs and Highway

Advisory Radio System (1640 ANI) to inform motorists of conditions.

Turnpike motorists can also get travel conditions by calling 866-976-TRIP (8747). This toll-free number gives audio advisories for the region in which you are traveling, including delays and closures. For a snapshot of conditions across the Turnpike, including access to traffic cams, traffic-flow monitors, audio advisories and more, visit the interactive Travel Map at www.paturnpilke.com/webmap .