Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

People driving at 70 mph on Interstate 80 can start doing it legally next month – at least on parts of the road. 88 miles of I-80 – from Exit 101 in DuBois to mile marker 189 in Clinton County will have the 70 mph limit starting August 11. News Release: Pennsylvania moved ahead with steps to make travel more efficient today as the Pa. Turnpike activated its 70 mph speed limit from Blue Mountain (Interchange 201) to Morgantown (Interchange 298) and PennDOT announced it will launch 70 mph pilot projects on a pair of interstates next month. “As we increase the speed limit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, motorists need to increase their restraint behind the wheel accordingly,” said Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “Remember, even though we’re increasing the speed limit, motorists still must obey the law and drive safety. After all, 70 mph is the maximum speed, not the mandatory speed.” The Turnpike’s new 70 mph signs were put in place yesterday; it took Turnpike maintenance employees about s...

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) issued the following statement regarding his proposal to increase the maximum speed limit on Pennsylvania interstate highways and the Pennsylvania Turnpike: "Today I have circulated a co-sponsorship memo for legislation I intend to introduce which would increase the maximum speed limit on Pennsylvania interstate highways and the Pennsylvania Turnpike from 65 to 70 miles per hour. Increasing Pennsylvania’s maximum speed limit on interstate highways and the PA Turnpike will allow for better traffic flow and provide for greater efficiency in the delivery of goods throughout the Commonwealth. Numerous other states have already taken the step to allow for traveling at a maximum speed of 70 MPH or more. Over the last two decades since Pennsylvania’s maximum speed limit was last set, our vehicles have become more technically efficient and safety standards have continued to increase. As we move forward with this m...

A former state Senate leader and seven other people have been charged in connection to a “pay to play” scheme involving the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Attorney General Kathleen Kane says, "The grand jury found that these men were using the Turnpike to line their pockets and to influence elections. That is stealing from the public, pure and simple." Retired state Senate Democratic Leader Bob Mellow, who is currently in jail on unrelated corruption charges, is accused of having his chief of staff help supporters and contributors get business from the turnpike, and having him pressure people at the turnpike to support him politically and raise campaign funds. Mellow is charged with corrupt organizations, bribery, bid-rigging, conspiracy and other offenses. A message left for a criminal defense lawyer who has represented him in the past was not immediately returned. Also charged was former turnpike chief executive Joe Brimmeier and former turnpike chairman Mitchell Rubin, who f...

The Pennsylvania Turnpike will offer live coverage of the demolition of its Allegheny River Bridge on its website on Tuesday. The main span of the old bridge is scheduled to be blown apart with explosives at 10 a.m. Turnpike officials say there is no place on public property to view the demolition safely and is urging the public to stay away. Traffic will be stopped on the turnpike for up to 20 minutes at the time of the explosion. The old bridge, which opened on Dec. 26, 1951, has been replaced by twin spans nearly a half-mile long at a cost of $193.6 million. The site to see the explosion is www.paturnpike.com