Briefly: PA Turnpike moves to electronic tolls; removes toll plazas

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Authority has started removing toll plazas along its system. Starting with the Pocono Interchange (Exit 95) on the Northeast Extension (Interstate 476), contractors have removed the tollbooths and canopy from the interchange.   

Toll plazas are being demolished where Open Road Tolling (ORT) has launched, east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension. Each interchange will be reconstructed to provide an unobstructed traffic flow. 

While each demolition will be unique to its physical location, timing and traffic, the entire process will prioritize customer safety. As contractors continue their demolition work, drivers should be prepared for new temporary traffic patterns and should pay attention to crews in work zones. 

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. 

The switch to ORT in the east occurred in January. ORT will launch on the mainline PA Turnpike’s western section in 2027 and tollbooths on the mainline will be fully removed across the system by the end of 2028. 

During demolitions, Pennsylvania State Police and PA Turnpike personnel will be positioned at impacted areas to assist drivers. Changeable message signs will also provide information on the traffic patterns. Motorists are encouraged to plan travel accordingly. Work schedules are subject to change based on weather conditions.  

Removal of tollbooths and the reconstruction of interchanges will continue East of Reading and on the Northeast Extension through 2026.   

Jeremy Stickling is TCA’s Safety Professional of the Year