The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is celebrating its first full year of Open Road Tolling (ORT). Last January, the PA Turnpike’s decade-long journey to modernize operations and meet customer expectations for seamless, nonstop travel culminated with ORT’s launch on the roadway’s eastern portion.
“Open Road Tolling continues the PA Turnpike’s legacy of excellence within the transportation field,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “By 2027, we’ll be delivering a safer, more reliable roadway across the entire Commonwealth for the 550,000 customers who choose our roadway daily.”
In an ORT system, tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds without slowing down or stopping beneath overhead structures — called gantries — located between interchanges. Equipment on the gantry and in the roadway processes E-ZPass or Toll By Plate transactions.
With gantries live east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension, toll plaza removal and interchange reconstruction is underway. The removal of toll plazas is the driving force behind ORT’s safety benefits, allowing for a more natural, free traffic flow. Lansdale and Poconos Interchanges are in the final stages of being upgraded to this new configuration.
Other highlights from eastern demolition work include:
- Eastern interchanges scheduled for demolition: 21 locations
- Work started: 14 locations
- Toll booths to be removed: 142
- Weigh-in-motion scales decommissioned: 173
- Interchange buildings to be removed: 13
- Completion date: late 2026
“The demolition and interchange reconfiguration is a critical part of transition to Open Road Tolling,” said PA Turnpike Chief Engineer Brad Heigel. “By eliminating obstacles and increasing sight lines, it ultimately reduces customer stress and distractions when entering and exiting the system. These changes also reflect increased safety requirements, customer demand, emerging technology and national tolling standards.”
In preparation of ORT’s launch systemwide, toll equipment installation on newly constructed gantries is underway West of Reading. Over the next year, work will move west to the Ohio border until it is installed on all gantries. However, tolling equipment will not be active until ORT officially launches on the PA Turnpike’s western stretch in 2027. The project’s final work – reconfiguring western toll plazas – will take place through 2028.
Lanes may be temporarily closed during tolling equipment installation at the gantry-site. While these will be well-managed, with appropriate signage and notification, drivers should pay attention, reduce their speed and use caution.
