The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has approved funding for a new interchange connecting the Pennsylvania Turnpike to State Route 981 in Mount Pleasant Township.
Commissioners modified the Fiscal Year 2027 10-Year Capital Plan to add the project, which aims to improve transportation access and regional mobility across Westmoreland County.
The planned interchange will be near Milepost 80.8, which is 15 minutes south of the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.
PennDOT Secretary and PA Turnpike Commission Chair Mike Carroll explained that the project builds on existing state investments in the region.
“Westmoreland County is growing and Route 981 is critical to that growth,” Carroll said. “This new interchange builds on the more than $220 million we’re already investing here and will create an important connection for the region that paves the way for future opportunities.”
Officials said the connection is feasible due to the turnpike’s transition to Open Road Tolling, which launches across the main system in January. The cashless system collects tolls electronically at highway speeds via overhead gantries, allowing interchanges to be built with smaller footprints and at lower construction costs than traditional toll plazas.
Funding for the project was reallocated following changes to the State Route 130 Interchange Project, which is currently paused after a comprehensive traffic study identified significant traffic mitigation needs.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is also carrying out safety and mobility improvements along the corridor through its Laurel Valley Transportation Improvement Project to accommodate anticipated traffic from the interchange.
The project will mark the first time the commission uses the “Design-Build Best Value” procurement process. This method allows officials to select construction contracts based on optimal combinations of cost savings and time efficiency.
The project remains in the early stages of development. Turnpike officials say detailed cost estimates and project schedules will be released as they become available.
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