The closure will affect traffic north from the Mahoning Valley exit and south from the Pocono exit, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports.
If you're going to be driving early this afternoon on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike -- Interstate 476 -- north from the Mahoning Valley interchange or south from the Pocono interchange, be prepared to stop, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation warns in a news release.
Traffic will be slowed in that area and traffic will be stopped for no more than 20 minutes between 12:30 and 1:30, PennDOT said. The stoppage is scheduled so rock slopes adjacent the northbound lanes can be demolished, PennDOT said. If you're going to try and get around the blast site, traffic on Route 903 will also be stopped, PennDOT said.
Motorists will be slowed to 25 mph about 12:45 southbound at the Pocono interchange and northbound at the Mahoning Valley interchange and brought to a complete stop at mile markers A85 north and A89 south, PennDOT said. Anyone exiting the Hickory Run Service Plaza will be stopped on the northbound ramp to the highway.
Travel advisories will be posted on a turnpike construction webpage and on 1640 AM.