I-95 traffic pattern changes planned at Girard Avenue Interchange
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation today announced that a traffic pattern change will start this week on Interstate 95 at the Girard Avenue Interchange in Philadelphia for a $39 million improvement project.
PennDOT is beginning construction to rebuild 1,200 feet of I-95 just south of the Girard Avenue Interchange and replace bridges carrying the interstate over Shackamaxon Street, Marlborough Street and Columbia Avenue. Construction is scheduled to finish in spring 2015.
This project is the third of six to move to construction as part of PennDOT’s program to improve the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange and rebuild three miles of interstate from Race Street to just south of Allegheny Avenue.
Crews will work from 10 p.m. tonight (Oct. 31) to 5 a.m. Thursday (Nov. 1) to remove rumble strips and resurface the outside shoulders on northbound and southbound I-95 from Shackamaxon Street to north of Columbia Avenue. Lane closures will be in place on I-95 during this overnight operation.
On Thursday and Friday (Nov. 1-2) from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., lane closures will be in place on northbound I-95 between Interstate 676 and Girard Avenue as crews paint new traffic lines, set concrete barriers near the median and move travel lanes away from the center of the highway.
On Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 5-6) from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the contractor will work on southbound I-95 between Girard Avenue and I-676 to move travel lanes away from the median by painting new traffic lines and setting concrete barriers.
Motorists can expect to face slowdowns during these overnight operations, which are weather dependent.
Once the contractor establishes the Stage 1 traffic pattern by moving traffic away from the middle of I-95, crews will remove the existing median barrier and rebuild the median pavement for future use as travel and crossover lanes.
By late December, PennDOT’s contractor will move I-95’s three northbound and southbound travel lanes toward the center of the highway and begin rebuilding the outer sides of the interstate. Traffic will remain in this pattern until spring 2014.
The infrastructure improvements being made under this $39,259,503 project include:
• Widening and rebuilding 1,200 feet of I-95 from south of Shackamaxon Street to north of Columbia Avenue to provide four lanes in each direction and a fifth lane for ramp traffic entering and exiting I-95 between Girard Avenue and I-676;
• Replacing I-95 bridges over Shackamaxon Street, Marlborough Street and Columbia Avenue;
• Building five retaining walls to support embankments;
• Installing sound walls with clear acrylic panels at the top to preserve views of the river and views from surrounding neighborhoods; and
• Building sustainable enhancements adjacent to and beneath I-95, including public art, low-maintenance landscaping, progressive storm water management devices, light-emitting diode (LED) street and underpass lighting, and thematic form-liners for decorative treatment of bridge walls.
PennDOT is rebuilding this portion of I-95 in four stages to keep three lanes open in each direction during peak hours. I-95 ramps at Girard Avenue also will remain open throughout construction.
James J. Anderson Construction Co., Inc. of Philadelphia is the general contractor on the project, which is financed with 90 percent federal and 10 percent state funds.
PennDOT finished the first phase of construction at the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange in 2010. The second phase began in December 2011 to rebuild and improve local surface streets, including Richmond Street, replace bridges and relocate several major utility lines near the interchange. This $91.2 million project is scheduled to finish in October 2015.
The three remaining phases of the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange Improvement Project will widen and reconstruct I-95 from Columbia Avenue north to Ann Street and from Shackamaxon Street south to Race Street. These phases are currently in engineering design and will start at different times over the next seven years.
For additional project information, visit www.95revive.com<http://www.95revive.com>.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511pa.com<http://www.511pa.com> or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on I-95 and other major highways before heading out.
For more PennDOT information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us<http://www.dot.state.pa.us>. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly<http://www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly>.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Brought to you by PlanPhilly
PlanPhilly
In-depth, original reporting on housing, transportation, and development.