PHOTOS: Construction Progressing On PA Turnpike Beaver River Bridge Replacement Project

The Pennsylvania Turnpike continues to progress through stage 3 of construction for a multiphase project involving the total reconstruction and widening of two miles (Milepost 12 and Milepost 14) of the Turnpike’s east-west mainline nearest the Exit 13 Beaver Valley (Beaver Falls/Ellwood City) interchange.

“Our contractor continues to establish access roads on the east and west sides of the Beaver River for new bridge construction,” says Crispin Havener, Media Communications Specialist. “Over the past few months, construction got underway to drill shaft foundations for the western piers for the new bridge structures as well as driving piling and constructing footings for the eastern abutments for the new Beaver River Bridges. To accommodate excavation for realignment of the mainline turnpike east of the Beaver River, Thompson Run Road (T-635) was closed to traffic last month and detours have been posted.”

The road will be closed until next summer.

“The contractor is currently working on excavation for the widening of the mainline turnpike west of the Beaver Valley Interchange,” adds Havener. “In the next few weeks, there will be a 24-hour closure of the on- and off-ramps at the interchange.”

A final date and time range is still to be determined according to Havener.

Over the next few months, the contractor will continue mass excavation work on the east and west sides of Beaver River for mainline realignment and widening.

“Residents and travelers will start seeing piers and abutments on the east side of the bridge begin to be built up, while new stormwater drainage systems will also be installed, and causeways and cofferdams will be constructed in the Beaver River to allow for river pier construction,” says Havener.

Havener says there will be intermittent lane closures on River Road (SR-1001) for construction work and project access as well as reconstruction work will soon begin on State Route 18 (Big Beaver Blvd), creating new traffic patterns and lane closures to allow for new roadway and drainage work.

Temporary on/off ramps will also be under construction for westbound traffic between State Route 18 and the Turnpike.

Construction is expected to be fully completed in September 2027.

Future updates and pictures can also be found on the PA Turnpike Construction Page link.