The Pennsylvania Turnpike is gearing up for a busy Memorial Day weekend, with over two million drivers expected to hit the road between Friday (May 23) and Monday (May 26). This marks an increase of nearly three percent compared to last year, according to PA Turnpike officials.
To accommodate the increased traffic, all construction and maintenance work on the turnpike will be suspended starting Thursday afternoon until late Monday evening. This suspension aims to minimize traffic delays and ensure a smoother travel experience for motorists.
The busiest day is expected to be Friday, with more than 700,000 motorists projected to use the turnpike. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and drive responsibly.
Additionally, those traveling westbound in the Somerset to New Stanton corridor on Sunday (May 25) should anticipate slower traffic from 3 to 5 p.m. due to the annual Run for the Wall motorcade. This event involves over 300 units traveling from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County.
The PA Turnpike is also continuing its conversion to Open Road Tolling (ORT), which allows tolls to be charged electronically without requiring vehicles to stop. This system is already in place for some sections and will be expanded in the coming years.