The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has officially started preliminary engineering design phase for the Breezewood Interchange – enhancing safety, mobility and transportation infrastructure. The redesigned Breezewood Interchange will maintain local access to State Route 30 in Breezewood, while also providing a direct connection to Interstate 70, accommodating travelers who want to remain on the PA Turnpike while offering those visiting Breezewood a safer, less congested entry to the community.
“We are thrilled to introduce the public to our project team for the new Breezewood Interchange project,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “This project reflects how the PA Turnpike has a role in supporting healthier, more livable communities, while also improving connectivity across our Commonwealth. By making it easier for visitors to reach Breezewood, we are helping support the community’s efforts to revitalize the area.”
Breezewood is among the first communities to benefit from the flexible interchange design now possible thanks to Open Road Tolling (ORT), a cashless, free-flowing mode of collecting tolls without traditional toll plazas or tollbooths. The full implementation of ORT across the PA Turnpike by 2027 will allow for the addition of access points requiring a significantly smaller footprint at a lower cost.
The Breezewood Interchange, part of the original roadway built during the 1930s, was scheduled for renovations as part of the PA Turnpike’s Total Reconstruction Initiative. Rather than replace existing infrastructure, the PA Turnpike is providing direct access to I-70. This keeps long-distance travelers and commercial traffic on the interstate, while supporting safe, less congested access to local communities for visitors. This will enhance transportation infrastructure, connectivity and potential economic development in the Breezewood area.
