Construction Equipment Guide
470 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
800-523-2200
Wed January 31, 2001 - Northeast Edition
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a major thoroughfare that crisscrosses the state, and serves as a vital link in the transportation network of the eastern United States. A portion of that link located in Western Pennsylvania, which brings together thousands of travelers a year, is currently undergoing major reconstruction.
The second phase of a $50-million project is focused on a section of the turnpike located in Westmoreland County. The project consists of the total reconstruction of a 9-mi. (14 km) section of original turnpike roadway, the rehabilitation or reconstruction of four bridges, and the installation of a new concrete median barrier, drainage and guide rail. The project is located just east of the New Stanton Interchange (Exit 8) and encompasses the east and westbound lanes towards the Donegal Interchange (Exit 9).
The project will be completed in five stages while maintaining traffic.
Stage 1 involved the paving of eastbound and westbound shoulder areas, the removal of the existing median barrier and reconstruction of the median. This work was done in preparation of traffic control and maintaining four lanes of traffic during the subsequent patterns in Stages 2 through 5.
According to Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission spokesperson, John Ozimok, the second stage, which has recently been completed, involved the removal and reconstruction of the eastbound lanes and shoulder area.
“Stage 3 of the work on the total reconstruction of the turnpike roadway is underway and entails the reconstruction of the median area,” said Ozimok. “All of the existing bituminous material is being removed including the turnpike’s original 9-in. thick concrete surface.”
“At the present time, the concrete is being crushed and removed for the placement of inlets for several thousand feet of drainage pipe,” said Jim Lockhart, construction manager, KCI Technologies of Monroeville, PA. “The prime construction under way is milling and inlet work before Stage 3 begins in spring 2001.”
Lockhart mentioned that the new sub-base that is being installed will support 20-in. (50.8 cm) of layered blacktop. Construction is also continuing on bridges and box culverts within the project area, however, this work does not impact traffic flow.
Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both the east and westbound directions. The speed limit is 55 miles-per-hour throughout the construction work zone areas. This phase of work and traffic pattern will continue through the 2001 construction season.
Lockhart stated that the equipment used presently are dump trucks, a milling machine and excavators since most of the work under way involves excavation, soil stabilization and paving. It also was indicated that an Aztec facility, or portable asphalt plant, has been set up to supply new asphalt for paving as needed as the project progresses.
Stage 3 will entail the reconstruction of the remaining eastbound lanes and the median area. Stage 4 will involve the reconstruction of the westbound lanes and shoulders, and Stage 5 will involve the completion of the median area by setting the permanent concrete barrier.
The construction team consists of: KCI Technologies Inc. (project management and construction inspection); The EADS Group (construction inspection); Angelo Iafrate Construction Company (general contractor); John Gulisek Construction Company (bridge construction); Baker (general consultant); SAI Consulting Engineers Inc. (design engineer); MS Consultants (design engineer); Earth Inc. (geotechnical design engineer).
Completion of the project in its entirety is slated for the fall of 2002.