Published on Philly Burbs, by Daniel Adler

July 31, 2013

Gov. Tom Corbett and other dignitaries lauded $500 million in work to link the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 95 as an engine for short-term and long-term economic growth.

Gov. Tom Corbett and other dignitaries lauded $500 million in work to link the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 95 as an engine for short-term and long-term economic growth.

Corbett spoke Tuesday afternoon at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the massive transportation initiative at the turnpike’s Trevose Maintenance Facility in Bensalem. He was joined by Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley of Bucks County, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, R-8, state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, and others.

“It only makes sense to be here and start the process … of connecting two major arteries in Southeastern Pennsylvania so that we can get our people, our goods, our services, north and south, east and west, without having to get off the (highways and clog local roads in Bucks and Philadelphia),” Corbett said.

Following the groundbreaking, Fitzpatrick said the project will create construction jobs in the short term and provide long-term economic vitality in local communities.

“Anybody who doubts that needs to look at what the Blue Route has done for Conshohocken,”

Fitzpatrick said.

The only missing portion of I-95, from Maine to Florida, is in New Jersey. By linking the two freeways in Bucks County and redesignating certain areas as I-95, that changes, and the highway system in Lower Bucks County will look quite different.

Officials expect the three-stage project could cost a total of $1.4 billion. Tuesday’s groundbreaking was for the first stage, which will cost roughly $500 million, officials said. Toll money and federal funds will pay for the project.

Government and turnpike officials broke ground on the side of the turnpike near the Galloway Road bridge in Bensalem, where a new mainline toll facility will become the eastern terminus of the turnpike’s ticket-based toll-collection system.

The first stage of the project — which started in 2010 with the replacement of bridges over the two highways and other work — will be completed in 2018, said Mark Compton, the turnpike’s chief executive officer. Once finished, existing sections of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey turnpikes will be redesignated as I-95, thus making the highway one continuous roadway as the federal government specified in 1982.

“We’re here to commemorate the beginning of a critical infrastructure project that will undoubtedly improve the quality of life for residents and commuters in the surrounding area,” Compton said. “Many also consider the Turnpike/I-95 link to be a central component for the continued economic growth and competitiveness of this region.”

Lt. Gov. Cawley said the project “makes sense for transportation needs along the Eastern Seaboard (and) for Pennsylvania, for Bucks County and for our communities.

“This project is going to put communities like Bensalem and Bristol Township on the map. We will now be a true crossroads for industry and innovation here in Southeastern Pennsylvania,” he said.

Officials said it was a major oversight that the country’s main north-south highway on the East Coast doesn’t connect with the east-west thoroughfare that connects Pennsylvania’s two biggest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Tomlinson said the link will relieve local roads in Bensalem and Bristol Township from traffic trying to hop from one highway to the other.

“On top of that, it’s going to give us access to the rest of the world,” Tomlinson said. Additionally, “It makes Bristol Township and Bensalem Township truly even more a destination area for economic development, which is more jobs. This is a great day for Lower Bucks County.”

Turnpike commissioner Pat Deon said the link is “a great asset for this county.”

Drawings show that I-95 will travel north in Bucks County until it intersects with the turnpike in Bristol Township. The section of turnpike (I-276) east of I-95 will be re-designated as I-95. What is currently I-95 north of the turnpike will be redesignated as Interstate 195.

(Daniel Adler, "Officials break ground on major I-95/Turnpike link," PhillyBurbs, 07/31/13)