comments or questions? i-76, tredyffrin and upper … reconstruction and widening project i-76,...
TRANSCRIPT
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission P.O. Box 67676Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676
Total Reconstruction and Widening ProjectI-76, Tredyffrin and Upper Merion TownshipsMileposts 320 to 326, Chesterand Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania
Vol. 1, No. 1
Comments or Questions?
Detach form and send to:Lugene KeysKCI Technologies, Inc.5001 Louise DriveMechanicsburg, PA 17055
Subscribe to THE PIKE, or send your comments online at
www.paturnpike.com
Name (Please print clearly)
Address
City State Zip Code
YES! – I would like to subscribe to E-Bulletins (e-mail req’d).
YES! – I would like to subscribe to the THE PIKE newsletter.
Fall 2010 • Vol. 1, No. 1
Total Reconstruction and Widening Project I-76, Tredyffrin and Upper Merion Townships
Final design, which is expected to con-tinue through 2012, includes a detailed engineering process necessary to prepare contract specifications, determine required right-of-way and transition the project into its construction phase. Construction on the Turnpike mainline is forecasted to begin in early 2013.
Over the past 20 months, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has worked closely with Tredyffrin Township, state and federal officials, special interest groups and resi-dents to address specific areas of concern - pri-marily related to storm-water management - that led to the project’s sus-pension in March 2009.
As a result of these extensive collaborative efforts, the PTC has redesigned the project’s stormwater management plan to be far more effec-tive. Retaining walls have been added to significantly reduce the need for much of the property shown as potential right-of-way acquisitions in January 2009.
The PTC is transforming the existing four-lane roadway with a median 10 feet wide into a new six-lane facility (three lanes each direction) with a median 26 feet wide. Each of the six travel lanes will be 12 feet wide.
The Legislative and Design Roundtables that were formed to facilitate dialogue
with the PTC will continue to meet and provide input through the project’s final design and construction phases. To date, the Legislative Roundtable has met five times and the Design Roundtable has convened nine times.
Valley Forge Road BridgeThe new bridge carrying Valley Forge Road over Interstate 76 opened to traffic on October 26, 2009, approximately three weeks ahead of schedule. This was one of two
“early action” overhead bridge replacements that precede the start of total reconstruction.
The new structure at Milepost 324.3 features a stone-like façade, two travel lanes 12 feet wide and shoulders eight feet
wide. An area adjacent to the bridge has been landscaped and embellished with two rain gardens that act to absorb and treat runoff that otherwise would flow into nearby drainage pipes and surface waters.
Allan A. Myers, Inc. of Worcester, PA was the general contractor for the $4.8 million Valley Forge Road span. The second over-head bridge replacement project, involving Mill Road, is slated to begin in March 2011 and conclude by Thanksgiving of the same year, with a detour in effect from March 21, 2011 to November 4, 2011.
Route 29 All-Electronic InterchangeProject is advancing; Construction slated for March 2011
What’s Inside?
Project Timeline
Collaboration Results in ProgressThe PTC outlines the collaborative actions undertaken to fully engage the project stakeholders.
T he Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Milepost 320-326 Total Reconstruction Project is advancing to the final design phase after the suspension of engineering work was lifted this past spring.
Mileposts 320 to 326, Chester and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania
Design Moving Forward for Six-Lane Widening Project
The new Valley Forge Road Bridge completed in late October 2009.
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE PROJECT UPDATE
OPEN HOUSE
When:Tues., November 16, 2010
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: Clarion Hotel
Valley Forge Ballroom480 N. Gulph Rd.
King of Prussia, PA 19406
The purpose of this open house is to update the public on progress made towards the revision of the prelimi-nary stormwater manage-ment plans and the addition of retaining walls, which has led to a reduction in property impacts.
Printed on recycled paper
Construction of the eagerly awaited Route 29 All-Electronic Interchange Project located between Downingtown and Valley Forge, which will link Interstate 76 with PA Route 29 (Morehall Road) near the western end of the Milepost 320-326 Project, is expected to begin in March 2011.
Turnpike officials say the new facility, which will offer E-ZPass customers access to and from both roadways and in both directions, should be ready for traffic in late 2012. The Route 29 E-ZPass-only Interchange is expected to reduce backups at the Valley Forge Interchange, at the I-76/Route 202 Interchange and on Route 202 itself. The facility will contribute to an overall decrease in traffic on Route 29 in the vicinity of Swedesford Road and Matthews Road and, west of Route 29, on Route 401 and Phoenixville Pike. It also will complement the operational efficiency of the newly completed six-mile section of the Turnpike from Milepost 320-326, slated for completion in 2015.
The project, located in Charlestown, East Whiteland and Tredyffrin Townships in Chester County, will include the construction of ramps for the new interchange. These ramps will cross over Yellow Springs Road, Atwater Drive and Cedar Hollow Run, and the Turnpike mainline.
Please visit: www.paturnpike.com/ConstructionProj-ects/Route29_SlipRamp
Route 29 All-Electronic Interchange Construction to
Start Early 2011
Graphic Rendering of Project, located in Chester County.
Total Reconstruction & Widening ProjectMileposts 320-326, Tredyffrin & Upper Merion Townships
Project Timeline
*This timeline represents an overview of the project history and an estimated time frame for future project milestones. This project is part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commis-sion’s $2 billion statewide total reconstruction initiative, which entails rebuilding sections of the 70-plus-year-old Turnpike facility from the ground up. The new roadway design meets current interstate design standards and will provide a safer and more efficient travel experi-ence for Turnpike customers.
Project Design/Design Roundtables
Suspended
Project Design Resumes/Final Design
Initiated
Noise Impact Analysis Report Released
Design Roundtable Initiated
*All future project dates are estimates and are subject to change*
Wetland Study Completed
Preliminary Design Initiated
Environmental Over-view Completed
Preliminary Design Completed
Legislative Roundtable Initiated
Project Update Open House
Final Design Completed
First Open House Plans
Display
Design RoundtablesResume
2006
2004
2005
2007
2008
2010
2011
2012
2013
2009
2014
2015
Final Design Open House Plans Display
Mainline Construction
Valley Forge Road Overhead Bridge
Construction Project
Mill Road Overhead Bridge Construction
Project
indicates construction phase
• Organized a Legislative Roundtable to maintain an on-going dialogue between the public officials and the PTC.
• Organized a Design Roundtable to facilitate interaction with and gather input from interested community mem-bers, organizations, and other special interests.
• Retained a public outreach firm and developed a project specific web site to maximize opportunities for citizen input.
• Is responding to requests to hold in-depth discussions with community organizations and citizen groups such as the Summerhill Homeowners Association; Green Hills Homeowners Association; Quarters Homeowners Association; Glenhardie Condos & Golf Course; Valley Stream Residents; and Chesterbrook Civic Association.
• Revised stormwater management design to maximize parcels that could be obtained amicably from owners of private property.
• Reconfigured basins where feasible to preserve or minimize removal of existing vegetation.
• Is proposing to use underground stormwater manage-ment facilities to minimize adverse impacts.
• Is proposing extensive retaining walls to reduce impacts to adjacent properties.
• Is obtaining significant input from the Township, Legislative Roundtable and Design Roundtable member-ship, and other stakeholders in developing the redesign.
• Coordinated extensively with the stakeholders in reviewing the stormwater plan redesign and calculations.
• Performed extensive infiltration and geophysical testing during the design phase to validate design assumptions.
• Performed considerable extra work during stormwater management plan redesign to evaluate variable median widths.
• Is maintaining access on Wilson Road under the Turnpike with a new structure. For more information, visit www.paturnpike.com
Mileposts 320 to 326, Chester and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania
Turnpike Committed to Community Collaboration
Total Reconstruction and Widening Project I-76, Tredyffrin and Upper Merion Townships
• Is providing pedestrian accommodations for Route 252 and other road crossings.
• Is providing police presence on Mill Road detours to ensure smooth traffic flow and enhance safety.
• Accommodated Valley Forge National Park’s request for architectural treatment on the Valley Forge Road bridge.
• Pledged to construct a noise wall behind the Service Plaza with the Service Plaza or MP 320 to 326 project construction, whichever occurs first.
• Retained a nationally recognized noise specialist firm.
• Is proposing noise walls to protect Valley Forge Park facilities where requested and to shield the Vanguard/Crossroads school.
Pennsylvania Turnpike officials have worked diligently to balance the interests of all stakeholders in making
decisions about the Mileposts 320-326 Total Reconstruc-tion Project. Outcomes of the extraordinary effort include an improved stormwater management plan and a reduction in property acquisitions. In addition to these key accom-plishments, the following is a list of the collaborative efforts undertaken by the PTC to maximize its public participation process. The PTC:
The Design Roundtable convened on six occasions from Oct. 2009 to Aug. 2010 to discuss stormwater management.
Kevin Scheurich, PEProject ManagerP.O. Box 67676Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676(717) 939-9551, Ext. [email protected]
Project Contacts
Please visit our web site by logging onto www.paturnpike.com.Click on the Major Design/Construction Projects link, then the Milepost 320-326 Widening link to access the site.
Lugene KeysPublic Outreach Program Mgr.KCI Technologies, Inc. 5001 Louise Drive, Ste. 201Mechanicsburg, PA 17055(717) [email protected]
Don Steele, PESr. Engineering Project Mgr.251 Flint Hill RoadKing of Prussia, PA 19406(610) [email protected]
Glenda LarsonFacilitatorKCI Technologies, Inc. Penn Center East, Building 23424 William Penn Hwy., Ste. 230Pittsburgh, PA 15235(412) [email protected]