More than 80 miles of the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be closed over the weekend for the cleanup of a tractor trailer crash.
The 86 mile stretch of the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 70/76) will be closed between the Breezewood (Exit 161) and the New Stanton interchange (Exit 75). The closure will begin at 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 15th and end at 5 a.m. on Sunday, July 16th.
According to WTAJ News, the closure is necessary for the removal of a semi truck that crashed in the area on Monday morning, July 10th at mile marker 103.5. The semi truck left the roadway, smashed through a guardrail, and skidded down a ditch before colliding with an embankment. The truck was destroyed in the wreck. The driver was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
The turnpike commission suggests the following route for motorists and truckers:
Exit at the Breezewood Interchange (Exit 161) and follow U.S. Route 30 west (18.7 miles).
Follow I-99 north (30.1 miles).
Follow U.S. Route 22 west (64.5 miles).
Follow PA Turnpike Route 66 south (13.9 miles).
Reenter the PA Turnpike (I-76) at the New Stanton Interchange (Exit 75).
Drivers will be allowed to reenter the westbound side of the Turnpike at the Donegal Interchange at Exit 91.
Eastbound traffic will be flowing during the closure, but will be limited to one lane starting at 8 p.m. on July 15th for road work unrelated to the DUI truck crash.