Turnpike starts engineering work for updated Breezewood, I-70 interchange

By PATRICK VARINE
TribLive

More than 5 million vehicles per year traverse the short stretch of Route 30 that links the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Interstate 70.

This month, preliminary engineering work began on a new interchange that will give drivers a direct connection to I-70, accommodating those who want to remain on the turnpike while providing a less-congested entry into Breezewood, an unincorporated neighborhood in East Providence Township.

“We are thrilled to introduce the public to our project team for the new Breezewood Interchange project,” Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said. “By making it easier for visitors to reach Breezewood, we are helping support the community’s efforts to revitalize the area.” Traffic between the Turnpike and I-70 must detour through the busy quarter- mile stretch of Route 30 that serves as a connector road between the two. Over the decades, the short corridor has become packed with fast-food restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, hotels and motels, many of which have fallen into disrepair.

The Breezewood Interchange, part of the original roadway built during the 1930s, was scheduled for renovations as part of the turnpike’s Total Reconstruction Initiative. Rather than replace existing infrastructure, the 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.

The updated interchange still will provide a way for travelers on the larger roadways to exit at Breezewood. The business community that is largely focused on serving the driving public has a big question: How many drivers will choose to continue making a pit stop there?

Joan LaSalle, a longtime Breezewood resident, owner of an engine and chassis shop and a former member of the town’s planning commission, spoke with TribLive in the spring of 2025 and said businesses will have to adapt to stay relevant.

After the interchange is revised, LaSalle said, business owners “are going to have to step up our game to make people stop. We have to have clean, well-stocked, friendly places for people.”

Turnpike officials recently sent letters to nearby businesses and property owners to announce the start of the project and provide notification of possible property access for field work, surveys and environmental investigations. While public involvement opportunities will occur at the end of preliminary design, the public can sign up now to receive news and announcements.

Turnpike officials estimate that preliminary engineering will continue through 2029, followed by four years of final design and utility planning, with right-of-way acquisition and construction between 2033 and 2035.

For more on the project, or to sign up to receive updates, go to PAturnpike. com/traveling/construction/ site/breezewood-interchange.