Pa. planners mull using I-476 shoulders as lanes

    Transportation planners are floating the long-range idea of converting the shoulders on busy Interstate 476 in suburban Philadelphia to traffic lanes during rush hour.

    The Philadelphia Inquirer reports the possibility for easing congestion on the busy traffic artery was floated during a recent report from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

    Under the proposal, vehicles would be allowed to drive on the shoulder during peak hours, helping ease congestion for the 90,000 drivers that use the road each day.

    But Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Charles Metzger says such a project could take four or five years — if it’s approved and gets funding. He says PennDot would have to strengthen the shoulders, among other things.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    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.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal