Pennsylvania Turnpike is eliminating an infamous detour
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Traffic snarls at the notorious Breezewood interchange. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Drivers rejoice! The Pennsylvania Turnpike is eliminating an annoying detour at one of its busier interchanges.
Why it matters: Millions of motorists each year have to detour 3 miles on trips between Pittsburgh and Maryland, D.C. and points southeast thanks to a peculiarity when Interstate 70 was constructed and connected to the turnpike in the 1960s.
Driving the news: The Turnpike Commission last week chose a designer to configure the Breezewood interchange.
- The commission will pay Chicago-based Alfred Benesch and Company $20 million for the project.
- Interchange construction could cost an additional $200 million, according to Turnpike Commission estimates, but officials note that could change as the project evolves.
State of play: Interstate 70 is getting a direct connection to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which means motorists will no longer have to detour onto surface streets and the scores of convenience stores, fast food joints and gas stations in Breezewood.
What they're saying: "The Breezewood Interchange project will show how transportation can improve communities' economies and quality of life," said state transit secretary Mike Carroll in a statement. "Not only will traffic flow and safety be improved, but truck-parking access and trail connections will also be included."
By the numbers: 2.8 million drivers entered the Breezewood tolling booth and 2.6 million motorists exited at Breezewood in 2023, the latest available yearly Turnpike Commission data.
Context: Turnpike officials said commercial traffic is up systemwide, but traffic at the Breezewood interchange has been decreasing since 2021.
- 310,000 vehicles passed through Breezewood in July 2021.
- 266,000 vehicles used the Breezewood interchange in July 2024.
- That's a 14% decline during those peak, summer travel months.
Reality check: The redesign will reroute millions of vehicles a year away from over a dozen Breezewood businesses.
Yes, but: Part of the Breezewood business community sees the change as an opportunity to transition to a local economy centered on outdoor recreation, including promoting enhancements to The Old PA Pike Trail (TOPP).
- "Our hope is TOPP Trail and connections to other trails will become major assets in Breezewood's transition to a vibrant community and gateway to Bedford and Fulton County's outdoor recreational assets," Jim Wehling, co-chair of the Bedford/Fulton Joint Recreation Authority, said in a release.
What's next: A specific timeline has not been set, but the Turnpike Commission said it typically takes eight to 10 years between designer selection and beginning construction.