Interstate 276 Pennsylvania

Interstate 276 Pennsylvania

Overview

I-276 east at I-476 - Plymouth Meeting, PA

Interstate 276 east at the Norristown interchange with Germantown Pike and I-476 south. The Northeast Extension (I-476) stems north from an unnumbered exit nearby. 12/19/16

Interstate 276 extends the Pennsylvania Turnpike east from Valley Forge (I-76) to Norristown, Valley Forge and Levittown. Originally known as the Delaware River Extension the toll road serves through traffic east to the New Jersey Turnpike and west to Harrisburg. I-276 also constitutes a commuter route across the north Philadelphia suburbs in Montgomery and Bucks Counties.

Speed limits are posted at 70 miles per hour along the entire length of I-276, with the exception of at the main line toll plaza east of Exit 352 (PA 132), and through the long term construction zone between Bensalem and Bristol. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is six lanes wide from the split with Interstate 76 east to U.S. 1 at the Bensalem Interchange (Exit 351).

Prior to 2018, I-276 ended at the New Jersey state line along the Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge. Signs further east along the New Jersey Turnpike mainline referenced I-276, though the Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension west to Pennsylvania was not part of the Interstate system. This changed when the interchange with I-95 and I-295 east opened at Bristol Township.

Route Information

  • East End – Levittown, PA

  • West End – King of Prussia, PA

  • Mileage – 32.28

  • Cities – Norristown, Philadelphia, Bristol

  • Junctions – I-76 PA Turnpike I-476 I-95 I-295

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-276 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: Bucks and Montgomery County 2021 Traffic Volume Maps (PennDOT)

Southeastern Pennsylvania - 1954

The Pennsylvania Turnpike ended at Valley Forge until August 23, 1954, when the Delaware River Extension opened east to the Willow Grove interchange.1

PA Turnpike / I-95 Interchange

The PA Turnpike / I-95 Interchange Project linked Interstate 95 with the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) and expanded I-95 south to Neshaminy Creek. Programmed construction also widens I-276 west to Trevose, widens I-95 east to Bristol and replaces the Delaware River Bridge. Two flyover ramps at the high speed interchange opened to traffic on September 23, 2018 as the new mainline of Interstate 95. Numbering changes were as follows:

  • Interstate 276 was formally truncated west to the partial interchange with I-95 and I-295.
  • Interstate 276 east from I-95 to the Delaware River Bridge, and the unnumbered Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension, became a part of the new Interstate 95 mainline. I-95 overtook the remainder of the New Jersey Turnpike north from there.
  • Interstate 95 north from I-276 to the Trenton Beltline and east to I-195 became part of an extended Interstate 295 from New Jersey.

The missing connection between I-95 and I-276 dated back to 1969, when Interstate 95 was completed through Bucks County. An interchange could not be constructed at that time due to federal regulations prohibiting the use of federal funds for directly connecting an Interstate highway with a toll road. Separate studies in 1975-77 and 1984-88 advanced the notion of joining the two routes, but obstructions due to engineering and environmental issues prevented construction from progressing. A subsequent environmental impact study, emphasizing minimal impacts to socioeconomic and environmental resources, was completed in 2003. Design work followed from 2004 to 2008.4

Construction (Section S1) on the Turnpike / I-95 Interchange Project kicked off on October 25, 2010 with bridge work at the Bristol Oxford Valley Road overpass. Ensuing work on November 10, 2010 also replaced the Galloway Road overpass further west by a new mainline toll plaza. Complete by November 2011, both spans were replaced to accommodate a wider footprint for the Pennsylvania Turnpike.5

The Richlieu Road overpass at milepost 352.4 was also replaced during construction (Section S2) between late March 2012 and November 2013. Replacement of the Bensalem Boulevard bridge at milepost 355.1 (Section A1) also accommodated the new travel lanes of I-276. Work there was underway from early March 2015 to November 20, 2015.5

Section B of the project constructed a new 12 lane toll plaza with high speed E-ZPass lanes between the Richlieu and Galloway Road overpasses at milepost 352.6. Work in Bensalem Township from June 2013 to Summer 2016 coincided with both the Fall 2015 conversion of the plaza at the Delaware River Bridge at milepost 358 to all electronic tolling (AET), and the removal of the Bristol toll plaza for U.S. 13.6

Bids for Section D10 were taken starting on June 5, 2014. The three year project widened 2.5 miles of the Pennsylvania Turnpike east from I-95 to milepost 358 and completed pile driving and pier support work for the eventual Interstate 95 northbound flyover. Costing $142 million, work involved seven bridges and various retaining walls, noise walls and culverts.6 Running in tandem through 2017 was Section D20 construction for the flyover from I-276 westbound to I-95 south and bridge superstructure work for the Interstate 95 northbound flyover.5

Interchange work (Section A1) along Interstate 276 at the Bensalem interchange with U.S. 1 was previously anticipated to run from August 2016 to May 2019. That work entered the design phase by July 2021. Among other changes involving lighting and drainage, existing bridges over the turnpike mainline will be rebuilt, the westbound entrance ramp will be realigned and a new eastbound off-ramp will be constructed.5

The Delaware Valley interchange was redesigned to eliminate the trumpet interchange with U.S. 13. A signalized intersection replaced the grade separation between Bristol Pike and the Pennsylvania Turnpike access road. Construction on the Route 13 Connector commenced in Spring 2018. Traffic switched to the final configuration on August 28, 2020. Landscaping work and other punchlist items continued to Spring 2021.

Construction from January 19, 2017 to August 17, 2018 replaced the Hulmeville Road (PA 513) overpass. This work accommodates future expansion of I-276 to six lanes (Section C).5

Long term construction for the PA Turnpike / I-95 Interchange includes the following:

  • Section A – Widening and reconstruction of I-276 from west of Pennsylvania 132 (Street Road) to Richlieu Road. This work follows the May 2019 completion of the Bensalem interchange construction at U.S. 1.
  • Section E – Expansion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike westbound to three lanes from the Delaware River Bridge toll plaza to the new flyover for Interstate 95 south. Reconstruction will also take place for the eastbound on-ramp and westbound ramps at the Delaware Valley Interchange.
  • Section D30/D40 – Adds the remainder of the ramps between Interstates 95, 276 and 295, replaces the turnpike bridge over Neshaminy Creek and expands I-295 north.
  • Parallel Delaware River Bridge – construction of a new span south of the existing steel arch bridge. Upon completion, the old bridge will closed for rehabilitation and eventually reopened for westbound traffic.

The full build out of the I-95 / PA Turnpike Interchange

History

The Delaware River Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was built over a two year period, with ground breaking on November 20, 1952. $65 million in bonds issued by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission funded construction, which wrapped up on November 17, 1954. The Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge, which was a joint project between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, broke ground on June 22, 1954. Costing $27.2 million, the arched steel truss bridge opened to traffic on May 23, 1956.1

With the establishment of the Interstate system, the Pennsylvania Turnpike mainline received the designation of Interstate 80S west from Valley Forge and Interstate 280 east from Valley Forge. These routes were not posted in the field, and by 1964, I-80S east from Monroeville to Camden was renumbered as Interstate 76. All branch routes for I-80S east were renumbered as well, with I-280 along the Delaware River Extension changed to Interstate 276.

Expansion of Interstate 276 to six lanes between Valley Forge (milepost 326) and Norristown (milepost 333) commenced in 1998 with a $35.6 million project to replace the Schuylkill River Bridge. The overall project was finished by November 21, 2008.2

Two partial access E-ZPass only exits were added to Interstate 276. The westbound exit to Virginia Dive in Upper Dublin Township opened to traffic in December 2000. It was followed by the opening of a new eastbound exit to Street Road (PA 132) in Bucks County on November 22, 2010. The Bensalem Township interchange (Exit 352) cost $7.4 million, with work started in May 2009.3

Photo Guides

East End I-95 PA Turnpike I-295 – Levittown, Pennsylvania

I-276 PA Turnpike East at I-95

I-276/PA Turnpike east at I-95 - Levittown

Interstate 276 passes under the I-295 mainline just ahead of the merge with I-95 northbound. The succeeding exit is the Delaware Valley interchange (Exit 42) with U.S. 13. 12/19/16

I-276/PA Turnpike east at I-95 - Levittown

The flyover carrying Interstate 95 north onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike mainline opened to traffic on September 23, 2018. Traffic along I-276 east merges with the high speed ramp from the right side. The total build out of the new interchange between the two routes will provide full access with four flyovers. 12/27/18

I-95 PA Turnpike South at I-276

I-95 west at I-276/PA Turnpike - Levittown

Interstate 95 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) heads west from the exchange with U.S. 13 at Bristol and crosses Mill Creek one mile ahead of the separation with I-276 west. 12/27/18

I-95 west at I-276/PA Turnpike - Levittown

Interstate 276 extends the Pennsylvania Turnpike mainline west from I-95 at Exit 40 to Bensalem, Willow Grove and Fort Washington. 12/27/18

I-95 west at I-276/PA Turnpike - Levittown

Interstate 95 shifts southward onto its original alignment to Philadelphia along a two lane flyover from I-276 at Exit 40. 12/27/18

Former East End PA Turnpike NJ Turnpike/ Delaware River Tpk Toll Br – Bristol, PA

I-276 PA Turnpike East at NJ Turnpike Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension

PA Turnpike east at US 13 - Bristol

Entering the original trumpet interchange with the turnpike access road for U.S. 13. The forthcoming toll plaza was demolished by 2015 while the eastbound ramp at Exit 358 was shifted westward in 2016.
U.S. 13 parallels I-95 south toward Philadelphia. Northward, U.S. 13 ends in 6.4 miles at U.S. 1 by Fallingston and Morrisville. 08/30/15

PA Turnpike east at Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge

Previously the Delaware River Bridge toll plaza marked the end of the ticketed Pennsylvania Turnpike system. Tolls are no longer collected in the eastbound direction here while cashless tolling commenced on January 3, 2016 for westbound at a new AET collection point. 08/30/05

PA Turnpike east at Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge

The Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge spans the river between Edgely, Pennsylvania and Florence, New Jersey. Rising to 135 feet above the level of the river, the continuous truss bridge connects I-276 and I-95 with the Pearl Harbor Memorial Extension east to Mansfield Township. 03/23/04

PA Turnpike east at Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge

Mileposts for the Pennsylvania Turnpike extended east to the state line, which lies midway across the Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge. These were replaced in 2018 to reflect the distance to Delaware along I-95. Milepost 359.0 was located by the unmarked New Jersey state line. 12/19/16

NJ Turnpike west at I-276 PA Turnpike Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge

Pearl Harbor Memorial Tpk Ext west at Delaware River Turnpike Toll Br

Traveling west from the ramps with U.S. 130 through Florence Township, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension approaches the arched continuous truss bridge spanning the Delaware River. Built between 1954 and 1956, the span carries four lanes of traffic along a 74.5 foot wide deck.7 03/23/04

Pearl Harbor Memorial Tpk Ext west at Delaware River Turnpike Toll Br

Interstate 276 began midway across the 6,571 foot long Delaware River Turnpike Toll Bridge at the Pennsylvania state line.7 03/23/04

West End I-76 PA Turnpike – King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

I-276 PA Turnpike West at I-76

I-276/PA Tpk west two miles from I-76 in Upper Merion Twp.

Two miles ahead of Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) and the Valley Forge interchange (Exit 326) at the King of Prussia Service Plaza along I-276 west. 12/19/17

I-276 west one mile ahead of I-76/Schuylkill Expressway at King of Prussia, PA.

Passing north of King of Prussia Mall and south of an area of industrial and office parks, the Pennsylvania Turnpike maintains six overall lanes to the exchange with I-76 west. Beyond Interstate 276, the toll road drops to four lanes. 12/19/17

I-276/PA Tpk west at I-76/Schuylkill Expwy east in Upper Merion Twp.

Interstate 76 follows the narrow and congested Schuylkill Expressway southeast from Exit 326 to Center City in Philadelphia. Adjacent ramps connect the freeway with Gulph Road (SR 3039) to King of Prussia Mall and Valley Forge. 12/19/17

The west end of I-276 at I-76 near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Interstate 76 west overtakes the remainder of the Pennsylvania Turnpike mainline to Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and the Ohio Turnpike gateway near Youngstown. US. 202 parallels the toll road to the south along a freeway stemming west from King of Prussia to Paoli, Malvern and Frazer en route to West Chester. 12/19/17

I-76 PA Turnpike East at I-276

I-76/PA Turnpike east at I-276 - Valley Forge

The first guide sign for the Valley Forge interchange appears west of the PA 252 (Valley Forge Road) overpass and Valley Forge Service Plaza. Signs for Exit 326 omit Interstate 276 in favor of I-476, which alludes to the indirect connection made with the Mid-County Expressway at Plymouth Meeting prior to 1992. Photo by Chris and Amber Lokken (06/24/08).

I-76/PA Turnpike east at I-276 - Valley Forge

Interstate 76 splits with the Pennsylvania Turnpike in one mile to join the Schuylkill Expressway southeast to Conshohocken and Philadelphia. Connections with U.S. 202 nearby lead motorists to King of Prussia Mall, Valley Forge National Park (via U.S. 422 west), and the U.S. 202 freeway southwest to West Chester. Photo by Chris and Amber Lokken (06/24/08).

I-76/PA Turnpike east at I-276 - Valley Forge

Interstate 276 begins as I-76 turns southeast from the Pennsylvania Turnpike toward Gulph Mills and Conshohocken.
I-276 appears here now, but previously the pull through panel at Exit 326 inexplicably featured a New Jersey Turnpike trailblazer. The PA Turnpike otherwise extends another 32.8 miles to the Pearl Harbor Memorial Turnpike Extension in New Jersey. Photo by Chris and Amber Lokken (06/24/08).

I-76 West at I-276 PA Turnpike

I-76 west at I-276/PA Turnpike - King of Prussia

Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) enters a full cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 202 just ahead of the toll plaza for the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276). A five-year project reconstructed the exchange with the U.S. 202 freeway to further eliminate weaving traffic by separating movements from I-76 west to the nearby beginning of U.S. 422. 12/19/16

I-76 west at I-276/PA Turnpike - King of Prussia

The Schuylkill Expressway mainline bypasses all ramps with U.S. 202 (Exits 328B/A) to lead directly to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Completed in October 2003, the interchange upgrade for U.S. 202 added overpasses for the loop ramps along the I-76 westbound c/d roadway and new distributor roadways along U.S. 202 between U.S. 422 and the Schuylkill Expressway. 12/19/16

I-76 west at I-276/PA Turnpike - King of Prussia

The collector distributor lanes return to Interstate 76 after the right in right out ramps (Exit 327) for King of Prussia Mall. Traffic slows beyond the merge into a six lane toll plaza preceding the trumpet interchange with Interstate 276 east. 12/19/16

I-76 west at I-276/PA Turnpike - King of Prussia

Two lane ramps partition for the continuation of I-76 west to Harrisburg and Interstate 276 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) east to the Northeast Extension (I-476) at Plymouth Meeting, Fort Washington, Willow Grove, Northeast Philadelphia and Bristol. 12/19/16

I-276 West End Throwback

I-76 west at US 202/I-276 - 2001

Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) west at the c/d roadway for Exits 328B-A and 327 during 1998-03 construction at U.S. 202. With the change to the ramps with U.S. 202, the addition of the Norfolk Southern Railroad truss bridge, and the demolition of an adjacent industrial business, the look of this area changed dramatically. 10/11/01

I-76 west at US 202/I-276 - 2001

Exit 328A previously departed from the c/d roadway as it separated from Interstate 76 west. This movement is now located further from the freeway mainline.
Reducing weaving traffic, the loop ramp from U.S. 202 north here was later elevated to pass over the c/d roadway and merge from the left instead of the right. 10/11/01

I-76 west at I-276/PA Turnpike - 2005

Construction underway in 2008 expanded I-76 west to four lanes to the trumpet interchange with Interstate 276 (Pennsylvania Turnpike). This sign bridge, including an overhead with a partially covered PA 9 shield, was eventually replaced with a monotube assembly. 08/30/05

Sources:

  1. Pennsylvania Highways: Interstate 276.
  2. Six Lane Widening Project, www.sixlanewidening.com/ PennDOT, project web site.
  3. “New Pa. Turnpike ‘E-ZPass-Only’ Interchange Opens in Bucks County.” Pennsylvania Turnpike, press release. November 22, 2010.
  4. Project Overview. https://www.patpconstruction.com/ paturnpikei95/project-overview.aspx PA Turnpike / I-95 Interchange Project web site.
  5. Construction. https://www.patpconstruction.com/ paturnpikei95/construction.aspx PA Turnpike / I-95 Interchange Project web site.
  6. Design Advisory Committee (DAC) Meeting #11 and Public Officials Briefing, https://www.patpconstruction.com/ paturnpikei95/documents/DACMeeting052815.pdf online document. May 28, 2015.
  7. Delaware River-Turnpike Toll Bridge Bridgehunter.com.

Page updated April 12, 2023.