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Interstate No. 76 7 live incidents

I-76: The Pennsylvania Turnpike Eastbound

Interstate 76 is an unusual interstate: it consists of two non-contiguous segments. The western segment runs 188 miles from Denver, Colorado northeast to Big Springs, Nebraska, where it terminates at I-80. The eastern segment runs 437 miles from Akron, Ohio across the Pennsylvani…

7Incidents
10Alerts in its states
5States
5Hazards
I-76 westbound across the eastern plains of Colorado near mile marker 165
I-76 westbound across the eastern plains of Colorado near mile marker 165 formulanone (Flickr) / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
01 Route overview

Interstate 76 is an unusual interstate: it consists of two non-contiguous segments. The western segment runs 188 miles from Denver, Colorado northeast to Big Springs, Nebraska, where it terminates at I-80. The eastern segment runs 437 miles from Akron, Ohio across the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the New Jersey Shore at Camden, including the famous Breezewood gap with I-70.

For freight, the eastern segment (which carries the Pennsylvania Turnpike) is the dominant corridor. In Pennsylvania, I-76 runs about 326 miles as the tolled Pennsylvania Turnpike, from the Ohio line to the Valley Forge interchange, so almost the entire cross-state run is a toll road (Pennsylvania Turnpike). The western segment is a connector between Denver and the I-80 corridor, used heavily by Front Range freight bound for Chicago and the Great Lakes.

Geographically the western segment crosses the high plains of eastern Colorado and western Nebraska. The eastern segment threads the Allegheny Mountains across Pennsylvania. The original mountain segment includes the famed Allegheny Mountain and Tuscarora Mountain tunnels, before descending into the Susquehanna Valley and the Philadelphia metro.

  • Two non-contiguous segments: western (CO-NE) and eastern (OH-PA-NJ)
  • Eastern segment is the Pennsylvania Turnpike (heavily tolled)
  • Includes 4 of the 7 Pennsylvania Turnpike mountain tunnels
  • Crosses the Allegheny Front at over 2,400 ft
  • Western segment ends at I-80 in Big Springs, NE
  • Concurrent with I-70 from Pittsburgh to Breezewood
  • Eastern terminus at Camden, NJ on the Walt Whitman Bridge approach
02 Key cities & junctions
StateMileCity / Junction
CO MM 0 Denver (I-25 jct)
CO MM 22 Brighton
CO MM 102 Sterling
CO MM 180 Julesburg
NE MM 1 Big Springs (I-80 jct)
OH MM 1 Akron
OH MM 47 Youngstown (I-80 jct)
PA MM 13 New Stanton (I-70 jct, west)
PA MM 110 Bedford (I-99 jct)
PA MM 161 Breezewood (I-70 jct, east)
PA MM 226 Carlisle (I-81 jct)
PA MM 247 Harrisburg
PA MM 326 Valley Forge / King of Prussia (I-476 jct)
PA MM 359 Philadelphia (I-95 jct)
NJ MM 1 Camden / Walt Whitman Bridge
04 Notable hazards & trouble spots
Hazard

Narrow tunnels with HAZMAT routing

Pennsylvania Turnpike mountain tunnels (MM 110-161)

The PA Turnpike includes the Allegheny Mountain, Tuscarora, Kittatinny, and Blue Mountain tunnels, narrow two-lane bores with restricted speed limits. Some carry HAZMAT prohibitions or routing requirements; check PTC bulletins for current rules.

Hazard

Notorious traffic-light gap

Breezewood, PA (MM 161)

I-76 and I-70 do not directly connect at Breezewood. Through traffic must exit, navigate a half-mile of US-30 with two traffic signals, and re-enter the next interstate. Backups of 30+ minutes are routine on summer weekends.

Hazard

Sustained Appalachian climbs and descents

Allegheny Front grades, PA (MM 100-200)

The PA Turnpike crosses multiple ridges between New Stanton and Carlisle. Sustained 5-6% grades, frequent fog at the summit areas, and winter ice events. Runaway-truck ramps line the eastbound descents.

Hazard

Exposed high-plains corridor

Western segment crosswinds, CO/NE (MM 22-180)

The western I-76 segment crosses 180 miles of open high plains with sustained crosswinds of 40-60 mph in winter. CDOT and NDOR issue high-profile vehicle advisories; ground blizzards close the corridor several times each winter.

Hazard

Tolled crossing with chronic congestion

Walt Whitman Bridge approach, NJ/PA (MM 1 NJ)

The eastern terminus crosses the Delaware River into Camden via the Walt Whitman Bridge, tolled and frequently congested. Truck volumes are heavy; plan deliveries outside the 6-9 AM and 3-7 PM peaks.

05 Active incidents (7)
CONSTRUCTION CO

Bridge Maintenance Operations on (F) - I-76 | FT MORGAN | GRAND JCT | BOULDER TURNPIKE | I-25 | DENVER | FORT…

(F) - I-76 | FT MORGAN | GRAND JCT | BOULDER TURNPIKE | I-25 | DENVER | FORT COLLINS | I-270 | ARVADA | GRAND JCT | BROADWAY

INCIDENT PA

No diesel at South Somerset Service Plaza on I-76 East at milepost 112.3 between Somerset and Bedford.

I-76

CONSTRUCTION PA

Active Roadwork on Pennsylvania road

I-76

CONSTRUCTION PA

Road work on I-76 West. The right lane is closed.

I-76

CONSTRUCTION PA

Road work on I-76 West. The right shoulder is closed.

I-76

CONSTRUCTION PA

Road work on I-76 East. Shoulders are closed.

I-76

CONSTRUCTION PA

Road work on I-76 East. Shoulders are closed.

I-76

06 Weather alerts in its states (10)

National Weather Service alerts in force in the states Interstate 76 runs through. Each one covers a county or a forecast zone, which may be far from the Interstate.

  • 4 alerts in Colorado: Flood Watch, Hydrologic Outlook
  • 2 alerts in Nebraska: Dense Fog Advisory
  • 4 alerts in New Jersey: Coastal Flood Advisory, Coastal Flood Statement, Flood Warning

See where each alert is on the live map →

07 FAQ
Why does I-76 have two separate segments?
The two I-76 segments (western, Denver to Big Springs, NE, and eastern, Akron to NJ) were designated separately and never connected by an interstate-grade roadway. There is no current plan to connect them.
Is I-76 a toll road?
The eastern segment (Pennsylvania Turnpike) is heavily tolled. Commercial truck tolls run high; check the PA Turnpike Commission rate schedule for current rates. A five-axle Class 8 tractor-trailer pays more than $600 to run the full length, which a Budget Direct comparison of 400-plus toll roads ranked the world's most expensive (Land Line / OOIDA). The Turnpike Commission disputes that label, putting its commercial rates 16th nationally and mid-tier per mile (PA Turnpike Commission). The western segment in Colorado and Nebraska is toll-free.
Are HAZMAT loads allowed in the Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels?
It depends on the placard. Some HAZMAT loads are prohibited from specific tunnels and must use posted detours; others are allowed with restrictions. Check the PA Turnpike Commission bulletins before any HAZMAT run on the eastern segment.
Does I-76 close in winter?
Yes, both segments. The Allegheny Front in Pennsylvania closes for snow and ice; the western segment in Colorado and Nebraska closes for ground blizzards. Check CDOT, NDOR, and the PA Turnpike Commission for status.
What major cities does I-76 connect?
The western segment serves Denver, Brighton, and Sterling. The eastern segment serves Akron, Youngstown, Pittsburgh (via I-70 concurrency), Bedford, Carlisle, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.

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