100-mile stretch of Pennsylvania Turnpike to close Thursday night into Friday morning

NEW STANTON, Pa. — A 100-mile stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike closed on Thursday at 11 p.m. and will reopen Friday morning for crews to make repairs after a crash.

According to Westmoreland County 911, the crash happened at the 75.8 mile marker on the westbound Turnpike near New Stanton at around 1:49 p.m.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike said two trucks, a flatbed and a tanker, were involved in the crash.

The tanker overturned, went over a hill and hit a tree, officials said.

One person was hospitalized after the crash.

To safely remove the tanker from the embankment and make repairs to the roadway, the westbound Turnpike will be closed between Breezewood (Exit 161) and New Stanton (Exit 75) from 11 p.m. Thursday to around 6 a.m. Friday.

The following suggested detour will be in place for motorists exiting at the Breezewood Interchange:

• 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).

The massive detour is necessary to safely accommodate the volume of diverted traffic, the Turnpike said.

Travelers should expect higher than normal traffic during the closure.

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