The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) completed a comprehensive imaging inventory of over 1,300 lane miles of its mainline system and interchange ramps in January 2023, utilizing advanced data collection and analysis techniques, according to project details released by Michael Baker International.
The project encompassed 1,066 lane miles of the Turnpike’s mainline and an additional 258 lane miles across 440 interchange ramps, employing Linear Camera Mapping System (LCMS) technology for pavement data collection. Michael Baker similarly developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) database and application, alongside detailed pavement condition analysis. Friction testing was also conducted across the entire surveyed network.
Data analysis was segmented into one-tenth-mile sections, aligning with the PTC’s existing project segments. The collected data included International Roughness Index (IRI) values, transverse profiles, and detailed measurements of various pavement distresses – sealed cracks, transverse cracks, longitudinal cracks, and alligator cracking. The inventory also identified and measured pavement bleeding, potholes, rutting, joint faulting, and macro texture.
The deliverables included a web-based application built using HTML5, featuring a video-log interface with standard playback controls. This application allows users to visualize pavement conditions and right-of-way extents on a base map, providing a detailed visual assessment of the Turnpike’s infrastructure.
Michael Baker has a long-standing relationship with the PTC, serving as the General Consulting Engineer (GEC) since 1956, providing services ranging from cursory inspections to capital budget reviews and maintenance recommendations. According to the company, their services include program management, transportation planning, and construction management. Brad Heigel, the PA Turnpike’s Chief Engineer, was named the 2025 Outstanding Engineer by the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania on March 18, 2026, recognizing his oversight of the PTC’s $8 billion Capital Plan, including the ongoing Open Road Tolling (ORT) initiative.
The ORT project, described as the most transformative in the Turnpike’s history, aims to modernize operations and provide seamless, nonstop travel. By the end of 2026, the PTC plans to reconfigure interchanges east of Reading and along the Northeast Extension to accommodate ORT, with systemwide implementation scheduled for 2027. The implementation of ORT is also enabling the construction of new interchanges, such as those currently underway in Breezewood, State Route 130, and Lafayette.
Michael Baker International is currently recruiting a PA Turnpike Transportation Manager, a position that will collaborate with other GCE team members to assist with comprehensive reports and analysis for the PTC.
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