Extreme delays, congestion likely at Delaware River crossings due to NJ & PA Turnpike bridge closure

Extreme delays, congestion likely at Delaware River crossings due to NJ &
PA Turnpike bridge closure

1/22/2017-HARRISBURG

UPDATE:

The PA Turnpike Commission and New Jersey Turnpike Authority are advising
motorists to expect extreme congestion and delays starting Monday at all
Delaware River crossings between Bucks County in Pennsylvania and
Burlington
and Mercer counties in New Jersey due to the continued emergency closure of
the
bridge connecting the Pennsylvania and New Jersey turnpikes.

Motorists are strongly urged to take public transit, carpool, work from
home or
adjust work hours outside of peak commuting times during this closure.
Severe
congestion is expected at all area river crossings. Expect slow-moving or
stopped traffic, especially during the morning and evening rush hours.

The following detours are in place:

• Motorists heading to New Jersey will be detoured at PA Turnpike Exit 351
to
Route 1 northbound to I-95 northbound, which becomes I-295 southbound in
New
Jersey, to I-195 eastbound to the New Jersey Turnpike. PA Turnpike Exit
#358,
Delaware Valley, will remain open for local traffic only; watch out for a
single-lane pattern approaching Delaware Valley.

• Motorists heading to Pennsylvania will be detoured at New Jersey Turnpike

Interchange 7A to I-195 westbound to I-295 northbound, which becomes I-95
southbound; or from New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 5 to Mount Holly Road.
Motorists traveling from northern New Jersey are advised to exit at
Interchange
14 and use I-78 west into Pennsylvania.

I-276 eastbound is closed and detoured at PA exit 358. Local roadways under
the
bridge including Radcliff Street, Palmer Avenue and Wood Avenue are also
closed
until further notice. Motorists traveling east from Route 130 will be able
to
use Interchange 6 to access the New Jersey Turnpike via the Pearl Harbor
Memorial Extension. The westbound Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension will
remain
closed to all traffic; there will be no access to Interchange 6 from that
direction.

The bridge is jointly owned and maintained by the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Commission and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. It was deemed unsafe and
immediately closed Friday following the discovery of a fracture in a steel
truss. Work is continuing to stabilize the bridge while engineers engage in
a
more comprehensive assessment and structural analysis to determine a
permanent
repair strategy. No timetable has been set for the reopening.

For real-time information about traffic conditions in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, drivers are encouraged to call 511 from any telephone.

NOTE: The PA Turnpike today launched a new web feature to provide timely,
accurate updates to travelers impacted by this prolonged bridge closure.
Click
here to learn more: https://www.paturnpike.com/DRBAlert.aspx

###

PA Turnpike Media Contact: Carl DeFebo, 717-645-2265 (mobile)

NJTA Media Contact: Tom Feeney, 909-710-6633 (mobile)


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