JBC proudly accepted the “Project of the Year” Award — Infrastructure over $20 Million for the PA Turnpike Open Road Tolling Conversion at the 2025 Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter Awards Gala held in Philadelphia.
Our Construction Management and Construction Inspection (CM/CI) team, comprising a Project Manager, Engineers, Technicians, Inspectors, and a Scheduler, served as the CM Agent/Owner’s Representative for one of the most transformative projects in the highway’s history.
An excellent team leading one of the most significant projects for the Commission and America’s First Superhighway,” said Alan Williamson, PA Turnpike Commission, Construction Engineer Manager.
JBC’s contributions were pivotal to the project’s success as our Project Team ensured that the critical “Go Live” date of January 5, 2025, was successfully met. They meticulously coordinated the sequencing of sites with contractors, the Turnpike, and the tolling equipment vendor to facilitate timely installation and testing.
“The size and scope of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Open Road Tolling Conversion and the number of stakeholders involved presented many challenges during construction. Cooperation and open communication by all parties involved substantially helped set clear goals and overcome obstacles to achieve a successful project outcome.” – Brian Moore, P.E., Project Manager
This wasn’t just any project; it was truly a transformative transportation infrastructure upgrade for all of Pennsylvania. What is it that made this project so special? More than 200 million people choose to travel on the PA Turnpike every year. This translates to over 500,000 drivers daily. Open Road Tolling (ORT) is the culmination of the PA Turnpike’s decade-long journey to modernize their entire tolling structure. In the ORT system, tolls are charged electronically as customers drive at highway speeds beneath overhead gantries, without slowing down or stopping at toll booths, allowing for free-flowing traffic: which reduces accidents, improves the environment, and allows new access points.
The project encompassed:
- Six distinct conversions within the eastern portion of the system run from the Reading Interchange to the New Jersey state line and the Northeast Extension across 19 sites, each featuring high-speed tolling infrastructure. This included the installation of monotube gantries on precast concrete columns and new utility buildings.
- The project’s complexity was substantial, spanning over 100 miles, often in areas of high traffic volumes and requiring intricate coordination with fiber optic and tolling equipment vendors.
- The project achieved a commendable safety record with no recordable incidents or lost time accidents reported by the contractors.
A huge appreciation for our client, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), and all our amazing project partners — Stantec, TranSystems, Jacobs, Kleinfelder (Century), JMT, Urban Engineers, Road-Con, and PKF.
JBC extends our congratulations to the distinguished “Person of the Year,” Special Honorees, our fellow Project of the Year Award recipients, and Student Scholarship winners, who represent the bright future and dedication within our field. These recognitions highlight the ongoing commitment to advancing infrastructure and professional development here in the Mid-Atlantic region!
→ Jun 20, 2025
