PA Turnpike removes tollbooths at interchanges to improve safety
Jun. 11—WILKES-BARRE — As part of its next step toward modernizing its operations and meeting customer experience for more seamless travel, the Pennsylvania Turnpike has started removing toll plazas along its system.
Starting with the Pocono Interchange (Exit 95) on the Northeast Extension (Interstate 476), contractors have completely removed the tollbooths and canopy from the interchange.
Toll plazas are being demolished where Open Road Tolling (ORT) has launched, east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension.
Each interchange will be reconstructed to provide an unobstructed traffic flow. While each demolition will be unique to its physical location, timing and traffic, the entire process will prioritize customer safety.
As contractors continue their demolition work, drivers should be prepared for new temporary traffic patterns and should pay attention to crews in work zones.
"The PA Turnpike has been a leader in transportation from the day we opened in 1940 as 'America's First Superhighway' and while traditional tollbooths made practical sense then, we now have more advanced and efficient systems that better serve today's 21st century customers," said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. "The switch to ORT modernizes the Pennsylvania Turnpike for today. We look forward to providing customers with a safer and more convenient travel experience on the PA Turnpike and better serving the communities we touch along the way."
In an ORT system, Compton said tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping beneath overhead structures — called gantries — located between interchanges. Equipment on the gantry and in the roadway processes E-ZPass or Toll By Plate transactions.
Compton said ORT reduces confusion and lane switching associated with traditional, stop-and-go tolling. The switch to ORT in the east occurred in January. ORT will launch on the mainline PA Turnpike's western section in 2027 and tollbooths on the mainline will be fully removed across the system by the end of 2028.
The PA Turnpike switched to All Electronic Tolling (AET) in March 2020, completing a process that began with the launch of E-ZPass in 2000. With electronic tolling equipment moving from the interchange to over the highway, traditional toll plazas will now be removed.
Tollbooth removal eliminates obstacles, increases sight lines and reduces stress and distractions for customers entering and exiting the system. ORT will lead to $25 million yearly savings in interchange maintenance and operations costs and $50 million in yearly operational savings versus traditional collection methods.
Beyond safety benefits, Compton said ORT also is better for the environment. Existing all-electronic systems have already led to reductions of up to 45% of CO2 emissions on the PA Turnpike, and an additional 7% of emissions reductions will be realized upon full ORT implementation. Toll plaza removal will also reduce the PA Turnpike's footprint by 150 acres.
During demolitions, Pennsylvania State Police and PA Turnpike personnel will be positioned at impacted areas to assist drivers. Changeable message signs will also provide information on the traffic patterns. Motorists are encouraged to plan travel accordingly. Work schedules are subject to change based on weather conditions.
Removal of tollbooths and the reconstruction of interchanges will continue East of Reading and on the Northeast Extension through 2026.
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