Changes on a portion of the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Lehigh County are scheduled to take shape in 2028.

Over 150 people attended an Open House Public Plans Display recently at Emmaus High School concerning the total reconstruction and widening plans for the Milepost A48 to A53 Project.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission plans to reconstruct and widen the Northeastern Extension (I-476) from Milepost A48 to Milepost A53.

The project begins just north of Limeport Pike and continues to Lower Macungie Road.

The project corridor traverses Lower and Upper Milford townships, Borough of Emmaus and Lower Macungie Township.

Upon completion of this project, the existing four-lane highway will be reconstructed and widened to a six-lane highway with 12-foot travel lanes, 12-foot left and right shoulders and a 2-foot concrete median barrier.

The project will also include the construction of new stormwater management facilities and sound barriers where criteria are met.

In addition, bridges carrying the Turnpike over the following features will be replaced: Church View Road (State Route 2040); Main Road West (State Route 2023); Shimerville Road (T-426), Norfolk Southern Railroad; Chestnut Street (State Route 29) and Little Lehigh Creek.

At that time, plans were reviewed for five miles of a new Northeast Extension Total Reconstruction and Widening Project.

The plans call for a Northeast Extension Total Reconstruction and Widening Project from Milepost A48-A53, in the municipalities of Lower Milford, Upper Milford, Emmaus and Lower Macungie.

This project is part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s Total Reconstruction Initiative focused on safety and mobility.

To date, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has rebuilt 155 miles of roadway including sections of the Northeast Extension.

The new modern design includes converting the existing four-lane highway into a six-lane facility with three 12-foot travel lanes in each direction, a 26-foot median and 12-foot outside shoulders.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2028.

Turnpike representatives were available to review the engineering design plans, noise studies, and associated environmental and property impacts before the right of way acquisition phase begins, as well as to ask questions and talk to the design team one-on-one.