New Baltimore PTC T-129 Project Bedford and Somerset Counties
Having a bid amount of $202.6 million in May 2022, “New Baltimore” is the largest highway project from a revenue standpoint In New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc.’s history.
Located along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, beginning at the Bedford County and Somerset County line, the project runs west from Milepost 131 to Milepost 125 in both the eastbound and westbound lanes.
The project has widened the Turnpike mainline to 122 feet, flattened most curves, installed a 26-foot median and 12-foot outside shoulders, and replaced two mainline bridges with newer and wider structures. Crews have built a new access ramp bridge, overhauled the Tunnel Road Arch structure, and upgraded drainage systems at the west end of the project. Additionally, the project has constructed 9 detention basins along the 5-mile section for stormwater control.
From the beginning of the job in July 2022, to now, the project has continually met several schedule milestone dates keeping it right on track to complete by the July 24, 2026 completion date. The New Baltimore project excelled in many areas making it one of the most successful projects New Enterprise has undertaken.
The New Baltimore project was the perfect type of project in a perfect location for the vertically integrated capabilities of New Enterprise. From its quarries capabilities to supply the large amounts of aggregate, concrete, and asphalt needs of such a large project; New Enterprise also has the experienced labor and equipment capabilities to perform the large amounts of excavation, drainage, bridge work, and asphalt paving of such a large project.
NESL self-performed the following quantities of work while completing the New Baltimore project:
- Class 1 Excavation – 2.2 million cubic yards
- Drainage Pipe Installation – 33,000 linear feet
- Aggregate / Rip Rap Installation – 140,000 tons
- Subbase Installation – 270,000 tons
- Asphalt Paving – 500,000 tons
- Bridge Structure Concrete – 6,600 CY
- Concrete Beam Installation – 2,008 LF – 32 beams
- Steel Beam Erection – 171,000 pounds – 580 LF – 4 beams
- MSE Wall Panels – 11,000 SF
One unique feature of this project was the use of transparent sound wall panels that sit as the top row on top of the standard concrete sound wall panels. There are three individual sound walls, and one sound wall on top of an MSE wall, that protect the small borough of New Baltimore from the traffic noise along this section of the turnpike. The transparent panels, while blocking the sound, still allow the residents to continue to view the mountains along the southern side of the turnpike along with the historic St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. The concrete panels have been painted with the same color and brick pattern as the church.
During the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons the Hot Mix Asphalt ( HMA ) Division of New Enterprise laid a combined total of 450,000 tons of warm mix asphalt. Each season HMA had a paving crew on the project from roughly May through October to place the asphalt right behind the HHC preparing the grade and subbase in advance.
Having met the substantial completion date of October 17, 2025 the project will shut down for the first time since July 2022 until May of 2026. With all traffic in its final alignment, and all construction work completed, the only thing that remains is to mill and pave the entire roadway and shoulder footprint 2 inches deep and place a brand new SMA wearing course over the entire area. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission built this final phase into the project to remove all markings from the line eradication and phase lines that are common in multi-phase and multi-year projects.
Again, the HMA crew will be on the project for 2 months early in 2026 to pave the final 50,000 tons of wearing course by the completion date of July 24, 2026.
This will wrap up the largest and one of the most successful jobs in New Enterprise’s storied history.
