The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission released a press
release today confirming that it has committed $45 million to build entry and
exit ramps near where Conshohocken Road currently connects with Ridge Pike.
This project is being sold as part of an effort to
revitalize downtown Norristown, but it really has the potential to have a huge
impact on Conshohocken. For one, it will provide an additional option to enter
and exit Conshohocken and quickly connect to a major highway. It will also make
the property along Conshohocken Road more desirable and could help encourage
major office developments in that direction and out of the Borough proper (good
for traffic, bad for the tax base).
One issue is that West Elm Street is now going to be even
busier because it will become a major artery between Fayette Street and the
turnpike. Instead of going over the bridge, you will now be able to take West
Elm. This needs to be examined and addressed.
Below is the full text of the press release:
The PA Turnpike
Commission (PTC) announced today that it has identified funding needed to
construct a new interchange joining the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 276)
with the Lafayette Street Extension in Montgomery County. Turnpike
commissioners recently committed $45 million to construct a full on/off
connection to be located between the existing Valley Forge and Norristown
exits.
The new
interchange is a key part of the Lafayette Street Extension Project which was
initiated by and is being managed by Montgomery County in partnership with
PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration. The project’s goal is to
improve highway access and mobility into downtown Norristown and Plymouth
Township; the county identified the Lafayette Street link as a top priority
among a number of new connections they proposed after a traffic study of the
county portion of the Turnpike was conducted.
“County
commissioners had a vision about revitalizing the county seat; they took a
number of proactive steps to bring this vision to fruition, and they’re to be
commended for their leadership,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch. “They
worked together to identify sites for a new Turnpike connection while fairly
balancing the project costs with benefits in terms of economic development and
congestion relief. The option they selected accomplishes these objectives while
controlling construction costs.”
The Lafayette
Street Extension Project traces its origins to 1999 when the county funded a
feasibility study to determine the cost and viability of such an undertaking.
Then in 2001, the county retained an engineering firm to begin preliminary
design work. The final design phase was begun in 2008, followed by right-of-way
acquisition in 2011. The county awarded the first construction contract for
Phase-1 work in 2013 and Phase-2 construction will begin in 2015.
Upon
completion, the new interchange will allow motorists to get on and off the PA
Turnpike at milepost 331, near the east shore of the Schuylkill River about two
miles west of the Norristown Interchange (#333).
“This is an
exciting announcement for the Turnpike that illustrates our commitment to
making travel more efficient and convenient for our customers,” said PA
Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “The new connection will ease congestion at two of
our busiest interchanges nearby and reduce backups on other roadways.”
The Turnpike’s
Valley Forge Interchange (#326) handles more than 62,000 vehicles per day
(combined entering and exiting) and is the third busiest Turnpike exchange in
the state; the Norristown Interchange sees total exiting and entering traffic
of more than 25,000 vehicles per day, making it the 11th busiest Turnpike toll
plaza in the state.
Compton added
that the Lafayette Street link exemplifies the PTC’s commitment to work with
counties and municipalities that border the toll road. The project is being
completed under a unique partnering agreement recently inked between the PA
Turnpike and Montgomery County.
“In government,
there’s been a lot of buzz about P3s, meaning Public-Private Partnerships,”
Compton said. “In this case, we have created a ‘public-public’ partnership that
is getting essential upgrades completed for those who live and work in
Montgomery County. At the same time, we are establishing a template for how
governments can work together for the benefit of those who use and pay for our
roadways.”
The Turnpike’s
funding commitment represents a significant milestone for state and county
officials who have long worked to advance the Turnpike link.
“It is truly
exciting to have reached this point after a decade of work, because this
project is so critical to Plymouth Township, Norristown and Montgomery County,”
said Josh Shapiro, Chairman of the Montgomery County Commissioners. “This is a
game changer as it will be a key part of revitalizing Norristown, improving
access to both municipalities, increasing smooth traffic flow and reducing
congestion on Ridge Pike and Main Street.”
State Rep. Matt
Bradford (D-Montgomery) said that the new interchange, while long-awaited, is a
crucial investment in advancing the regional economy.
“Having advocated
for the Lafayette Street interchange since my first days in office, the
benefits of this project cannot be fully weighed in just the positive impact on
commuter and commercial traffic,” said Rep. Bradford. “This project is
hopefully part of opening the Norristown waterfront and our entire county seat
to greater economic development. The bottom line is that it is essential for
the economic health of the entire region.”
Secretary
Schoch said the design timetable of the Lafayette Street Interchange was
accelerated due to Act 89, the transportation-funding bill passed a year ago by
the general assembly and signed by Gov. Tom Corbett.
“The county can
advance the project to final design sooner thanks to new revenues from Act 89,”
Secretary Schoch said. “And the motorists who fund our transportation system —
whether by taxes, fees or tolls — get some comfort knowing their investment in
infrastructure is actively and directly supporting economic growth.”
The final
design stage of the interchange, being administered by Montgomery County, is
expected to get under way in 2015. PA Turnpike officials estimate the new
interchange could start construction as early as 2018, with possible completion
by 2020, at the earliest.
Source: More
Than the Curve
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