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70-586: The creek rises on Blue Mountain in Berks County north of Strausstown and flows west-southwest. Little Swatara Creek joins Swatara Creek in the borough of Jonestown in Lebanon County . 40°29′56″N 76°12′18″W  /  40.498964°N 76.204967°W  / 40.498964; -76.204967 This Lebanon County, Pennsylvania state location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to

140-527: A welcome center , and the New Stanton and Sideling Hill plazas feature seasonal farmers' markets . A few plazas offer E85 while New Stanton offers compressed natural gas ; all of them offer conventional gasoline and diesel fuel . Select service plazas have electric vehicle charging stations . The Sunoco and 7-Eleven locations as well as the Subway at North Midway are operated by 7-Eleven itself while

210-674: A bridge over SEPTA 's Norristown High Speed Line and runs parallel to Norfolk Southern's Dale Secondary rail line, which is located south of the road. The turnpike crosses Norfolk Southern's Harrisburg Line , the Schuylkill River , and SEPTA's Manayunk/Norristown Line on the Schuylkill River Bridge near Norristown . A short distance later, the road passes over the Schuylkill River Trail and Norfolk Southern's Morrisville Connecting Track on

280-487: A combination of the ticket system and a barrier toll system , but cash tolls were phased out between 2016 and 2020. The turnpike also offers 15 service plazas , providing food and fuel to travelers. During the 1930s, the Pennsylvania Turnpike was designed to improve automobile transportation across the mountains of Pennsylvania, using seven tunnels built for the abandoned South Pennsylvania Railroad in

350-540: A deck truss bridge of the same name from 1951. The toll road crosses the Susquehanna River between York and Dauphin counties on the 5,910-foot-long (1,800 m) Susquehanna River Bridge , which also replaced a deck truss bridge from the early 1950s. In Montgomery County, the turnpike crosses the Schuylkill River on the 1,224-foot-long (373 m) Schuylkill River Bridge , which was twinned in

420-697: A mix of rural land and suburban residential development north of Pittsburgh into Allegheny County . The road then approaches the Warrendale toll gantry, where the closed toll system begins, and continues southeast, passing over the P&;W Subdivision rail line, which is owned by CSX and operated by the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad . East of this point, the turnpike has an interchange with PA 8 in Hampton Township . The turnpike then comes to

490-617: A network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is designated as a Blue Star Memorial Highway honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces ; the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania has placed Blue Star Memorial Highway markers at service plazas along the turnpike. In addition to the east–west mainline, the PTC also operates

560-587: A photo of the vehicle's license plate and mail a bill to the vehicle owner) or E-ZPass . Between the Warrendale and Neshaminy Falls toll plazas on the mainline, as well as on the Northeast Extension from Mid-County to Wyoming Valley, tolls are based on distance traveled. An eastbound mainline toll gantry is located at Gateway near the Ohio state line and a westbound mainline toll gantry is located at

630-409: A range of approximately two miles (3.2 km). The 511PA travel information service provides alerts, an interactive map, weather information, and traffic cameras to motorists. There are variable-message signs located along the roadway that provide information to motorists such as accidents, construction, weather, and traffic congestion. The Pennsylvania Turnpike has 15  service plazas on

700-766: A river in Pennsylvania is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Blue Mountain (Pennsylvania) Blue Mountain , Blue Mountain Ridge , or the Blue Mountains of Pennsylvania is a ridge of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Pennsylvania . Forming the southern and eastern edge of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians physiographic province in Pennsylvania, Blue Mountain extends 150 miles (240 km) from

770-700: Is a controlled-access toll road that is operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States. It runs for 360 miles (580 km) across the state, connecting Pittsburgh in Western Pennsylvania with Philadelphia in eastern Pennsylvania, and passes through four tunnels as it crosses the Appalachian Mountains in central Pennsylvania. Part of

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840-501: Is available to all turnpike users via the GEICO Safety Patrol program. The free program checks for disabled motorists, debris, and accidents along the road and provides assistance 24 hours daily year-round. Each patrol vehicle covers a 20-to-25-mile (32 to 40 km) stretch of the turnpike. Towing service is available from authorized service stations near the highway, and Pennsylvania State Police Troop T patrols

910-475: Is located a short distance to the south of the road. One mile (1.6 km) later, the turnpike has a westbound exit and entrance for Virginia Drive. In Willow Grove , the highway reaches the PA ;611 exit before passing over SEPTA's Warminster Line . The turnpike continues through more suburban areas, crossing into Bucks County and coming to a bridge over Norfolk Southern's Morrisville Line. Farther east,

980-541: Is notably home to some of the only traffic lights on an Interstate Highway. After Breezewood, I-76 continues along the turnpike, heading northeast across Rays Hill into Fulton County . The turnpike continues east across Sideling Hill , before reaching an interchange with US 522 in Fort Littleton . After this interchange, the highway parallels US 522 before curving east into Huntingdon County . The turnpike goes under Tuscarora Mountain through

1050-487: The Allegheny Mountain Tunnel . Exiting the tunnel, the turnpike winds down the mountain at a three-percent grade, which is the steepest grade on the turnpike, and heads into Bedford County , passing through a valley. At Bedford , an exit for US 220 Business (US 220 Bus.) provides access to US 220 and the southern terminus of I-99 ; this exit also serves Altoona to

1120-949: The Capital Region of Harrisburg and nearby communities, the rich farming country of the Lebanon Valley and Pennsylvania Dutch Country of York and Lancaster counties, the lower half of the Lehigh Valley , and the lower Delaware Valley , both of which extend north through water gaps beyond the ridgeline. Blue Mountain School District , which is named after the mountain range, is located just off PA Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania . The ridge of Blue Mountain runs for 150 miles (240 km) through Pennsylvania , reaching an elevation of 2,270 feet (690 m) above sea level just north of

1190-1013: The Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge . At this point, the Pennsylvania Turnpike ends, and I-95 continues east (north) as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike , which connects to the mainline of the New Jersey Turnpike. The Pennsylvania Turnpike incorporates several major bridges and tunnels along its route. Four tunnels cross central Pennsylvania's Appalachian Mountains. The 6,070-foot (1,850 m) Allegheny Mountain Tunnel passes under Allegheny Mountain in Somerset County. The Tuscarora Mountain Tunnel runs beneath Tuscarora Mountain at

1260-656: The Delaware Water Gap on the New Jersey border in the east to Big Gap in Franklin County in south-central Pennsylvania at its southwestern end. Views of Blue Mountain dominate the southern tier of most eastern and central Pennsylvania counties, providing an ever-visible backdrop cutting across the northern or western horizon. Most transport corridors and road beds piercing the barrier necessarily pass through large water gaps , including (west to east)

1330-588: The Interstate Highway System , it is designated as part of Interstate 76 (I-76) between the Ohio state line and Valley Forge , I-70 runs concurrent with I-76 between New Stanton and Breezewood , Interstate 276 ( I-276 ) between Valley Forge and Bristol Township , and I-95 from Bristol Township to the New Jersey state line. The turnpike's western terminus is located at

1400-868: The Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-476), the Beaver Valley Expressway ( I-376 ), the Mon–Fayette Expressway (Pennsylvania Route 43 or PA 43), the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass ( PA 66 ), and the Southern Beltway ( PA 576 ). The Pennsylvania Turnpike begins at the Ohio state line in Lawrence County, beyond which the highway continues west as the Ohio Turnpike . From

1470-594: The Ohio state line in Lawrence County east to the New Jersey state line in Bucks County . It passes through the Pittsburgh , Harrisburg , and Philadelphia areas, along with farmland and woodland. The highway crosses the Appalachian Mountains in the central part of the state, passing through four tunnels . The PTC , created in 1937 to construct, finance, operate, and maintain the road, controls

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1540-626: The Ohio state line in Lawrence County , where the road continues west as the Ohio Turnpike . The eastern terminus is situated at the New Jersey state line at the Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge , which crosses the Delaware River in Bucks County . The road then continues east as the Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike . The road uses an all-electronic tolling system; tolls may be paid using E-ZPass or toll by plate , which uses automatic license plate recognition . Historically, cash tolls were collected using

1610-494: The Pennsylvania Turnpike , near the borough of Newburg . Most of the ridgecrest, however, only reaches between 1,400 and 1,700 feet (430 and 520 m) in elevation. The mountain's width varies from 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 4.8 km). The southwestern end of the mountain is at Big Gap, west of Shippensburg . The mountain ridge continues to the southwest toward Maryland as Broad Mountain. The northeastern end of

1680-704: The Susquehanna , Schuylkill , Lehigh and Delaware River valleys or wind gaps , low gaps in the ridge caused by ancient watercourses. The barrier ridge forms a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions. To the south of the Susquehanna River gap in the south-central part of the state is the Cumberland Valley , part of the Great Appalachian Valley ; to its northwest side are

1750-547: The Susquehanna River , Amtrak 's Keystone Corridor rail line, and Norfolk Southern's Royalton Branch rail line on the Susquehanna River Bridge . Now in Dauphin County , the road heads south of Harrisburg as a bypass. In Lower Swatara Township the turnpike reaches an interchange with the southern end of I-283 , serving Harrisburg and its eastern suburbs and providing access to PA 283 ;

1820-759: The Tuscarora Mountain Tunnel , entering Franklin County . It then curves northeast into a valley to the exit for PA 75 in Willow Hill . Again heading east, the road passes under Kittatinny Mountain through the Kittatinny Mountain Tunnel . Shortly after exiting the tunnel, the highway enters the Blue Mountain Tunnel under Blue Mountain . Leaving that tunnel, the turnpike heads northeast along

1890-649: The Valley Forge interchange in King of Prussia , where I-76 splits from the turnpike and heads southeast as the Schuylkill Expressway toward Philadelphia; this interchange also provides access to US 202 and US 422 . Starting at the Valley Forge interchange, the turnpike is designated as I-276 and becomes a six-lane road serving as a suburban commuter highway. The road comes to

1960-490: The 1880s. The road opened in 1940 between Irwin and Carlisle . It was one of the earlier long-distance limited-access highways in the United States and served as a precedent for additional limited-access toll roads and the Interstate Highway System. The Pennsylvania Turnpike was extended east to Valley Forge in 1950 and west to the Ohio state line in 1951. In 1954, the road was extended further east to

2030-685: The 1960s after traffic levels rendered their nonstandard design obsolete. Five bridges carry the turnpike over major rivers in the state. The 1,545-foot-long (471 m) Beaver River Bridge crosses the Beaver River in Beaver County, which is in the process of being replaced. The highway crosses the Allegheny River in Allegheny County on the 2,350-foot-long (720 m) Allegheny River Turnpike Bridge , which replaced

2100-617: The 2000s. At the New Jersey state line in Bucks County, the highway is connected to the Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike by the 6,571-foot-long (2,003 m) Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge over the Delaware River. The Pennsylvania Turnpike uses all-electronic tolling , with tolls payable by toll by plate (which uses automatic license plate recognition to take

2170-571: The Allegheny River, the turnpike returns to four lanes, passing through the Oakmont Country Club before coming to a bridge over Canadian National's Bessemer Subdivision. From here, the railroad tracks run along the west side of the road before splitting further to the west. The highway heads southeast to Monroeville , an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh; an interchange with the eastern terminus of I-376 and US 22 (Penn–Lincoln Parkway) provides access to Pittsburgh. East of Monroeville,

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2240-737: The Allegheny Valley exit in Harmar Township , which provides access to PA 28 via Freeport Road. East of this interchange, the road heads south, with Canadian National 's Bessemer Subdivision rail line parallel to the east of the road. The highway crosses Norfolk Southern's Conemaugh Line , the Allegheny River , and the Allegheny Valley Railroad 's Allegheny Subdivision line on the six-lane Allegheny River Turnpike Bridge . After crossing

2310-568: The Delaware River Bridge near the New Jersey state line, both charging a flat toll. There is no toll between Gateway and Warrendale and between Neshaminy Falls and the Delaware River Bridge. As of 2024 , it costs a passenger vehicle $ 95.50 to travel the length of the mainline turnpike between Warrendale and Neshaminy Falls using toll by plate, and $ 47.30 using E-ZPass; the eastbound Gateway toll gantry costs $ 15.20 with toll by plate and $ 7.50 with E-ZPass for passenger vehicles while

2380-428: The Delaware River, and construction began on the Northeast Extension of the turnpike. The mainline turnpike was finished in 1956 with the completion of the Delaware River Bridge. During the 1960s, an additional tube was bored at four of the two-lane tunnels, while the other three tunnels were bypassed; these improvements made the entire length of the mainline turnpike four lanes wide. Improvements continue to be made to

2450-525: The PTC headquarters are located adjacent to this interchange. Here, the road narrows back to four lanes and runs through suburban development north of Middletown . The roadway passes over the Middletown and Hummelstown Railroad and the Swatara Creek before it continues into rural areas. The turnpike crosses a corner of Lebanon County before entering Lancaster County . In Lancaster County,

2520-645: The Schuylkill River Bridge before the parallel Dale Secondary rail line heads further south from the road. In Plymouth Meeting , an interchange with Germantown Pike provides access to Norristown before the roadway reaches the Mid-County Interchange. This interchange connects to I-476 , which heads south as the Mid-County Expressway, locally known as the "Blue Route", and north as the Northeast Extension of

2590-400: The analysis looked at all of the turnpike's toll roads together, noting "Nobody would ever go south towards Pittsburgh, east towards Philadelphia, then north towards Scranton. That's a 400-plus mile trip," and that Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls are comparable to other toll roads when examined on a per mile basis. Motorists needing assistance may dial *11 on mobile phones. First-responder service

2660-431: The annual rise in tolls, traffic has been shifting from the turnpike to local roads. Until March 2020, the Pennsylvania Turnpike used the ticket system of tolling between the Warrendale and Neshaminy Falls toll plazas, as well as on the Northeast Extension from Mid-County to Wyoming Valley. When entering the turnpike, motorists received a ticket listing the toll for each exit; the ticket was surrendered when exiting, and

2730-592: The applicable toll was paid. If the ticket was lost, motorists were charged the maximum toll for that exit. Cash, credit cards, and E-ZPass were accepted at traditional toll plazas. In 2010, McCormick Taylor and Wilbur Smith Associates were hired to conduct a feasibility study on converting the road to all-electronic tolls. On March 6, 2012, the turnpike commission announced that it was implementing this plan. The turnpike commission projected that it would save $ 65 million annually on labor costs by eliminating toll collectors. On January 3, 2016, all-electronic tolling

2800-537: The base of Blue Mountain to an exit for PA 997 . East of this interchange, the road enters Cumberland County , heading east through the Cumberland Valley on a stretch known as "the straightaway". Further east, the turnpike reaches Carlisle and an interchange with US 11 providing access to I-81 . Approaching Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Turnpike heads east through a mixture of rural land and suburban development, passing over Norfolk Southern's Shippensburg Secondary rail line. In Upper Allen Township ,

2870-554: The border of Huntingdon and Franklin counties, and is 5,236 feet (1,596 m) long. The Kittatinny Mountain and Blue Mountain tunnels are adjacent to each other in Franklin County and are 4,727 feet (1,441 m) and 4,339 feet (1,323 m) long, respectively. Formerly, the turnpike also traveled through the Laurel Hill Tunnel , Sideling Hill Tunnel , and Rays Hill Tunnel , though these were replaced in

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2940-488: The closed toll system at the Neshaminy Falls toll gantry. After passing through more suburbs, the road reaches a partial interchange with I-95 , where it crosses under I-295 with no access; this interchange has access from the westbound turnpike to southbound I-95 and from northbound I-95 to the eastbound turnpike. At this point, I-276 ends and the Pennsylvania Turnpike becomes part of I-95. Here, signage indicates

3010-518: The highway comes to the US ;15 interchange accessing Gettysburg to the south and Harrisburg to the north. The road continues east and passes over Norfolk Southern's Lurgan Branch rail line before it heads into York County , where it reaches the interchange with I-83 serving Harrisburg, its western suburbs, and York to the south. East of I-83, the turnpike widens to six lanes and crosses over Norfolk Southern's Port Road Branch rail line,

3080-440: The highway passes through Pennsylvania Dutch Country and comes to an interchange with PA 72 accessing Lebanon to the north and Lancaster to the south. Further east, the turnpike passes over an East Penn Railroad line in Denver before it reaches an interchange with US 222 and PA 272 which serves the cities of Reading and Lancaster. The route continues into Berks County and comes to an interchange with

3150-406: The highway. In 2015, the roadway had an annual average daily traffic count ranging from a high of 120,000 vehicles between the Norristown interchange and I-476 to a low of 12,000 vehicles between the Ohio state line and the interchange with I-79 and U.S. Route 19 (US 19). As part of the Interstate Highway System , the turnpike is part of the National Highway System ,

3220-410: The later part of 2021. In March 2020, the turnpike made the switch early as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic . The all-electronic tolling system on the turnpike will initially use toll booths at exits until mainline toll gantries between interchanges are constructed. Mainline toll gantries are planned to be in operation by 2025 east of the Reading interchange and by the later part of 2026 along

3290-411: The main highway throughout the state, as well as two on the Northeast Extension. Each plaza has multiple fast-food restaurants , a Sunoco gas station, and a 7-Eleven convenience store. Other amenities include ATMs, E-ZPass sales, free cellphone charging, Pennsylvania Lottery sales, picnic areas, restrooms, tourist information, Travel Board information centers, and Wi-Fi. The King of Prussia plaza has

3360-671: The mountain is at the Delaware Water Gap on the New Jersey border. Mount Minsi , elevation 1,461 feet (445 m), forms the promontory overlooking the Delaware River . The ridge of Blue Mountain continues northeast into New Jersey as Kittatinny Mountain . Blue Mountain marks the boundary between the Great Appalachian Valley and the main Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians . Four of Pennsylvania's major rivers cut through Blue Mountain in water gaps : The Pennsylvania Turnpike system passes through Blue Mountain at two points: Pennsylvania Turnpike The Pennsylvania Turnpike , sometimes shortened to Penna Turnpike or PA Turnpike ,

3430-483: The next eight years. In 2025, tolls will increase 5 percent, but tolls will change to be based on distance traveled as opposed to a flat rate. As a result, some drivers will see decreases in their tolls. Tolls are expected to increase annually until at least 2050. An analysis by Australian insurance company Budget Direct found the Pennsylvania Turnpike to be the world's most expensive toll. Turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo disputed Budget Direct's claim, saying that

3500-439: The north. East of Bedford the turnpike passes through The Narrows , a gap in Evitts Mountain . The turnpike, US 30, and the Raystown Branch Juniata River all pass through the 650-foot-wide (200 m) narrows. The road winds through a valley south of the river, before traversing Clear Ridge Cut near Everett . Further east, at Breezewood , I-70 leaves the turnpike at an interchange with US 30; this interchange

3570-405: The remaining restaurants and general upkeep of the service plazas are operated by Applegreen . As early as 1946, many of the service plazas were expanded in order to accommodate booming popularity. With the opening of the extensions from 1950 to 1956, new service plazas were also constructed along them. In comparison to the original ones, they were larger, and were more spaced out than those on

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3640-470: The road: rebuilding the roadway to modern standards, widening portions of the turnpike to six lanes, and adding interchanges. In 2018, an ongoing interchange project saw the redesignation of the easternmost three miles (4.8 km) of the road from I-276 to I-95. Though still considered part of the turnpike mainline, it is no longer signed with turnpike markers and uses I-95's mileposts and exit numbers. The turnpike runs east to west across Pennsylvania, from

3710-405: The roadway passes over SEPTA's West Trenton Line . In Bensalem Township , the highway comes to a bridge over CSX's Trenton Subdivision rail line before reaching an interchange with US 1 , which provides access to Philadelphia. The highway narrows back to four lanes before an eastbound exit and entrance with PA 132 . A short distance later, the turnpike arrives at the eastern end of

3780-408: The southern reaches of the Susquehanna Valley with picturesque streams channeling travel corridors deep into and over the central and western mountains and valleys—the heartland interior counties of Pennsylvania; along the Main Branch Susquehanna , the valleys also lead into the Coal Region of northeast Pennsylvania, the Wyoming Valley , and the distant Poconos . To the south of Blue Mountain lies

3850-447: The southern terminus of I-176 (a freeway to Reading) and PA 10 in Morgantown that also provides access to PA 23 . The turnpike then enters Chester County , running southeast to an exit for PA 100 north of Downingtown , where it heads into the western suburbs of Philadelphia. Continuing east, it reaches an interchange with PA 29 near Malvern . The highway crosses into Montgomery County and comes to

3920-426: The southern terminus of PA 66 (Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass). The road narrows back to four lanes at this interchange, and I-70 forms a concurrency with I-76 on the turnpike. After New Stanton, the road passes over the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad 's Radebaugh Subdivision line and winds southeast to the exit for PA 31 in Donegal , which also provides access to PA 711 . Continuing east past Donegal,

3990-418: The state and $ 250 million went to funding mass transit. As part of Act 89 signed in 2013, the annual payments to PennDOT will end after 2022, 35 years earlier than the original proposal under Act 44. But it is not known if the annual toll increases will continue after 2022. Act 89 has also redirected the entire $ 450 million annual payments to PennDOT toward funding mass transit. With

4060-434: The state line, the turnpike heads southeast as a four-lane freeway designated as I-76 through rural areas south of New Castle . A short distance from the Ohio state line, the eastbound lanes come to the all-electronic Gateway toll gantry. The highway then crosses into Beaver County , where it reaches its first interchange with I-376 (here, the part called Beaver Valley Expressway) in Big Beaver . After this interchange,

4130-571: The turnpike commission initially planned to omit the toll amount from new tickets, and Pennsylvania Auditor Jack Wagner wondered if the commission was trying to hide the increase. The commission later decided to include the tolls on new tickets. Cash tolls increased 10 percent on January 1, 2012, while E-ZPass tolls were unchanged from the previous year. With this increase, the cash toll rate increased to $ 0.093 per mile ($ 0.058/km) (equivalent to $ 0.12/mi ($ 0.075/km) in 2023 ). Tolls for both cash and E-ZPass customers increased in January of each of

4200-474: The turnpike continues through eastern Allegheny County before crossing into Westmoreland County . Here, it heads south and passes over Norfolk Southern's Pittsburgh Line before it comes to the exit for US 30 near Irwin . After the Irwin interchange, the Pennsylvania Turnpike widens to six lanes and heads into rural areas west of Greensburg . Curving southeast, it reaches New Stanton , where an interchange provides access to I-70 , US 119 , and

4270-402: The turnpike crosses Laurel Hill into Somerset County . In this county, the road continues southeast to Somerset and an interchange with PA 601 accessing US 219 and Johnstown before it crosses over CSX's S&C Subdivision rail line. East of Somerset, the highway passes north of the Somerset Wind Farm before it reaches Allegheny Mountain , going under the mountain in

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4340-470: The turnpike passes under Norfolk Southern 's Koppel Secondary rail line before it reaches the exit for PA 18 near Homewood . Past PA 18, the highway crosses CSX 's Pittsburgh Subdivision rail line, the Beaver River , and Norfolk Southern's Youngstown Line on the Beaver River Bridge . The road then enters Butler County , where it comes to Cranberry Township . Here, an interchange serves I-79 and US 19 . The turnpike continues through

4410-400: The turnpike reaches its final interchange, providing access to US 13 near Bristol . Following this, the road passes over an East Penn Railroad line before it comes to the westbound all-electronic Delaware River Bridge toll gantry. After this, the highway crosses the Delaware Canal and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor rail line before heading across the Delaware River into New Jersey on

4480-457: The turnpike, connecting the mainline turnpike to the Lehigh Valley and the Pocono Mountains regions of Pennsylvania. After the Mid-County Interchange, the mainline turnpike heads east through the northern suburbs of Philadelphia. In Fort Washington , the highway passes over SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line before it has an interchange with PA 309 . At this point, the road becomes parallel to Norfolk Southern's Morrisville Line , which

4550-514: The turnpike. The troop's headquarters is in Highspire ; its turnpike substations are grouped into two sections: the western section has substations in Gibsonia , New Stanton, Somerset, and Everett while the eastern section has substations in Newville , Bowmansville , and King of Prussia (the eastern section also has a substation at Pocono on the Northeast Extension). The PTC broadcasts road, traffic, and weather conditions over highway advisory radio transmitters at each exit on 1640 kHz AM, with

4620-463: The westbound Delaware River Bridge toll gantry costs $ 9.70 using toll by plate and $ 7.30 using E-ZPass. Since 2009, the turnpike has raised tolls once a year, starting on January 1, to provide funding for increasing annual payments to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), as mandated by Act 44. The turnpike commission paid PennDOT $ 450 million annually, of which $ 200 million went to non-turnpike highway projects across

4690-433: The westbound turnpike as a left exit from southbound I-95, using I-95 milepost exit number 40. This is the only place where continuing on the mainline turnpike is signed as an exit. After joining I-95, the remaining three miles (4.8 km) of road uses I-95's mileposts and exit numbers and is not directly signed as the Pennsylvania Turnpike, though it is still considered part of the mainline turnpike. Continuing east,

4760-504: The western portion of the turnpike. As of 2020 , about 86 percent of vehicles along the Pennsylvania Turnpike use E-ZPass for payment of tolls. The turnpike commission raised tolls by 25 percent on January 4, 2009, to provide funds to PennDOT for road and mass-transit projects, as mandated by Act 44. This toll hike brought the rate to travel the turnpike to $ 0.074 per mile ($ 0.046/km) (equivalent to $ 0.1 per mile ($ 0.062/km) in 2023 ). At this point, an annual toll increase

4830-427: Was introduced in the westbound direction at the Delaware River Bridge mainline toll plaza, while the eastern terminus of the ticket system was moved from the Delaware River Bridge to Neshaminy Falls. On October 27, 2019, all-electronic tolling was implemented at the eastbound Gateway mainline toll plaza. All-electronic tolling was originally scheduled to be implemented on the entire length of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in

4900-512: Was planned. A three-percent toll increase went into effect January 3, 2010, bringing the rate to $ 0.077 per mile ($ 0.048/km) (equivalent to $ 0.11/mi ($ 0.068/km) in 2023 ). The cash toll increased 10 percent on January 2, 2011, and E-ZPass tolls increased three percent. The new toll rate was $ 0.085 per mile ($ 0.053/km) (equivalent to $ 0.11/mi ($ 0.068/km) in 2023 ) using cash and $ 0.079 per mile ($ 0.049/km) (equivalent to $ 0.11/mi ($ 0.068/km) in 2023 ) using E-ZPass. As part of this toll hike,

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