PENN FOREST TOWNSHIP -- People living near a new interchange on the Pennsylvania Turnpike's northeast extension were thrilled giving it a try on Wednesday.
The new Jim Thorpe/Lake Harmony exit opened Tuesday afternoon. It's a new gateway to the Poconos for travelers coming from the Philadelphia area and we found it means big changes for people in Carbon County.
Drivers are really testing out the new interchange on the turnpike's northeast extension, especially the thousands who live near what's now the Jim Thorpe/Lake Harmony exit in Carbon County.
"Actually I was just thinking it saved me a good 10 minutes."
Barb Killeen lives a few minutes from the exit. She was checking how much time it will save her. So was Rich Smallenberg of Albrightsville.
"It's only five minutes from our house to get here compared to 25, 15, 25 minutes down to get the turnpike the back way," Smallenberg said.
"I love it. It's been a long time coming," said Jerry Moyer of Penn Forest Township. "We've been up here eight or nine years and it was talk when we first came up and it took this long for it to finally open."
Signs leading up to the Interstate 476 turnpike exit are clear: this is E-ZPass only. There's no actual toll booth, just a portal to pass through with that E-ZPass.
It will take photos of violator's license plates.
There are plenty of signs warning this is E-ZPass only and you do not want to use this interchange unless you have one. That is unless you want to pay a $60 fine, and that's just for the first offense.
"With that E-ZPass only, I know we're going to have some upset guests at some point who are not going to have that E-ZPass," said Sky Fogal a worker at Pocono Whitewater.
Nearby Pocono Whitewater is thrilled with the new exit, knowing plenty of its guests will be using it.
"It will save us easily 20, 30 minutes for everyone coming out of the Philadelphia area. For us our directions used to be, get off the Lehighton exit, do all those back roads which was crazy. People were getting lost all the time. Now it's literally, 'Just take a left!'"
This exit is a new gateway to Pocono attractions and neighbors expect it to become busy soon.
"There's going to be a lot of traffic. I think we're going to see a lot of build up, too."
E-ZPass users save 35 percent on all tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
