MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said it is ready for the end-of-year holiday travel, announcing that it will temporarily suspend road work.

All roadway construction and maintenance work will be suspended from Friday, Dec. 19 at 5 a.m. until Thursday Jan. 1 at 11 p.m. to ensure as many lanes are open as possible, according to a news release from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

As part of the GEICO Safety Patrol initiative, the PA Turnpike will have increased personnel on the roadway, along with PA State Police, to support the safety of travelers, according to the news release.

The PA Turnpike projects nearly 7.4 million vehicles will travel the PA Turnpike system between Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 and Thursday Jan. 1, 2026.

Early winter in Pennsylvania can bring any kind of weather from rain to ice and snow, which is why the Pennsylvania Turnpike says it encourages travelers to prepare by using real-time traffic and roadway conditions available at 511pa.com and allowing plenty of time to get safely to their destination.

The commission offered additional tips for traveling this holiday weekend:

 · Practice safe driving habits, including driving responsibly, powering off your devices and removing unnecessary distractions.

· “Paul Miller’s Law” is now in effect in Pennsylvania, prohibiting the use of hand-held devices while driving, even while stopped temporarily due to traffic, a red light, or other momentary delay.

· If you see an emergency responder on the road, follow Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law and move over into an adjacent lane if it is safe to do so, or slow down to a speed of not more than 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.  

· Know that help is just a call away, thanks to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Safety Patrol, sponsored by GEICO. Dial *11 via mobile phone to get support or report an incident or other emergency on the PA Turnpike.

·And remember, you will never receive a text from the PA Turnpike for unpaid tolls after your travel, the commission said. Instead, you can access and manage your account safely through the PA Toll Pay App or using your secure login for your E-ZPass Account. When in doubt, go directly to the portal and avoid interacting with unsolicited texts, calls or emails.