Turnpike Commission Updates Public on Construction

Residents of Hampton, West Deer, Indiana and Harmar Townships are invited to an open house to update them on a 200 million dollar reconstruction and widening project for the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Residents will be presented with project plans, bridge replacement information and future detours. Project-team members will also be on hand to present and discuss information about noise analysis and impact to property owners.

Tom Fox, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, says that the road will have an effect on current homeowners in the area. "We've informed residents who's property could be effected by this, inviting them to come and to talk with our property acquisition people if their property might be effected in some way, shape, or form and to give them general information about the studies we'll be conducting."

Fox says that the project is part of a six year 700 million dollar effort to rebuild the turnpike. He says that all of the finds were from the Turnpike and that much of it is toll money going back to the community.

The project will begin with the construction of six bridges over the turnpike and will begin in early 2012. It involves widening the existing roadway from four lanes with a 10 foot median to six lanes with a 26 foot median and constructing new storm-water facilities and wetland and stream mitigation.

The open house is scheduled for March 29th from 6-9 p.m. in the Great Room of the Hampton Township Community Center.