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    Pavement Milling Operation to Close NB I-81 Welcome Center Entrance, Exit Ramps in Franklin County

    April 30, 2026

    Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that the northbound Interstate 81 Welcome Center rest area in Franklin County will close Sunday night for a pavement milling operation on both the entrance and exit ramps. The Welcome Center is located just north of Exit 1 (Route 163/State Line).

    The Welcome Center is expected to be closed from 6:00 PM Sunday, May 3, until Tuesday, May 5, at 6:00 AM. An update will be issued when repairs are completed.

    The next available rest area is just south of Exit 37 (Route 233/Newville) in Cumberland County.

    This project consists of milling, concrete patching, asphalt resurfacing, guiderail updates, signage, and pavement markings on northbound and southbound I-81 from the Maryland State Line to Milepost 6, including ramps located within the project limits.

    .Travelers are reminded to be alert for these operations, to obey work zone signs, and to use caution when driving through work zones for their safety, as well as for the safety of the road crews.

    New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., Inc. of New Enterprise, PA, is the contractor on this $17.8 million project. All work is expected to be completed by July 16, 2027.

    Drivers can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

    Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.pa.gov/DOTprojects. Subscribe to PennDOT news and find transportation results in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict8. 

    Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

    MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Crochunis, 717-418-5017, mcrochunis@pa.gov

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    Please refer to the location map below:

    map indicating project location 81-099-welcome-center-franklin.jpg