ROAD WATCH COL. For May 11

The Commodore Barry Bridge area will undergo major projects with lane closings due to an $8 million deck joint repair project starting May 19.
Also,following the deck joint job, work will begin on a $71 million project to build two new ramps to provide direct access between Route 291 (Second Street) and I-95 in Chester.
The $8 million project involves replacing 74 existing compression seal joints with new strip seal joints on the bridge approach structure, according to the Delaware River Port Authority. The DRPA owns/operates four bridges across the Delaware River.
The deck joint job must be completed in a timely manner so PennDOT can build new ramps connecting the bridge with the Chester waterfront, said DRPA Chief Engineer William Brooks.
The project will involve closing two of its five lanes for almost seven months – not good news for seashore and work commuters as the vacation season approaches by Memorial Day.
Beginning May 19 there will be a lane restriction on wide-load traffic weekdays on the bridge through the duration of the project, according to DRPA spokesman Ed Kasuba.
Wide loads will be banned eastbound until after noontime.
Westbound wide loads will not be permitted on the bridge after 10:30 a.m. This is because only three of the five lanes will be open at all times during the project.
Two lanes will be open westbound during the morning rush hours and two lanes eastbound will be open during the afternoon rush hours.
The ramp from the Barry Bridge westbound into Pennsylvania to Flower Street will be closed for two months on or about May 19, Kasuba said. Signs are posted.



Also, construction begins this month on the I-95/U.S. Route 322 (Commodore Barry Bridge) Interchange Improvement Project that will reconstruct the interchange to improve congestion and provide access between I-95 and the Chester waterfront area. The PennDOT project will be done in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.
Construction is expected to finish by August 2011, according to PennDOT spokesman Charles Metzger.
The project will provide direct access from Route 322 East and I-95 to Route 291 via a new off-ramp from the Barry Bridge.
A new on-ramp to the bridge from Route 291 will provide access to Route 322 West and I-95 from the Chester waterfront.
This improvement project will reconstruct the interchange connecting two heavily traveled corridors – I-95 and Route 322 – which carries traffic from Chester and Delaware counties eastward to New Jersey via the bridge.
DRPA will be doing their work first and then PennDOT will be starting on one of the new ramps, Metzger said. A second ramp will be built after that.
Clearing work will be performed first and some aerial easements must be worked out with some property owners, he said.
Race for the Cure
Today, SEPTA will operate a special early morning R3 Media-Elwyn train and provide additional capacity on its other regional rail lines to accommodate spectators going to the Race for the Cure.
The extra R3 Media-Elwyn train will depart Elwyn station in Middletown at 6:22 a.m. today and arrive at Suburban Station in Center City Philadelphia at 6:57 a.m.
In addition, SEPTA will also add extra service for race spectators traveling on the Route 101 Media trolley today. The trolley will operate with an extra round trip departing 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby at 5:25 a.m. and arriving at Orange Street Station in Media at 5:47 a.m.
For the return trip back to 69th Street Terminal, the trolley will depart Orange Street Station at 5:55 a.m. and arrive at the terminal 6:22 a.m. Passengers may then board the Market-Frankford Line at 69th Street Terminal and ride into Philadelphia for the race.
Further information is available online at www.septa.org or by calling customer service at (215) 580-7800.
SEPTA
SEPTA will operate regular Market-Frankford Line train service between 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby and the Frankford Transportation Center this weekend to accommodate passengers this Mother’s Day weekend instead of previous shuttle bus service between 69th Street and 40th Street stations.
Regular Market-Frankford Line train service will also be in operation during the Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25.
LANSDOWNE
Aqua Pennsylvania will restrict Lansdowne Avenue between Fairview and Lincoln avenues in Yeadon for water main installation 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday.
BIKE TOUR
On May 18, the Delaware Valley Bicycle Club will host their annual Bonkers Tour at Ridley Creek State Park.
The event is open to all bicyclists with route options of 18-, 35-, 50- and 63 miles spanning rolling, scenic roads surrounding Media. The $25 fee enables DVBC to support many local bike advocacy groups and includes cue sheets, marked routes, sag wagon support and food stops.
Registration opens at 8 a.m., says DVBC president Drew Knox.
For more details, go online at dvbc.org or call Knox at (302) 475-1684.
Traffic Delays
Chadds Ford – Creek Road, Chester Water Authority installation between Baltimore Pike and Upper Bank Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday.
Also, U.S. Route 1 North/South – paving between Brinton Lake Road and Chester County line 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Monday.
I-95 South Ramp, Bartram/Essington avenues – Tinicum, barrier repairs, left lane closed to Bartram/Essington avenues 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.
Chester – U.S. Route 13 North/South, milling between Ninth Street and Ridley Creek 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Monday-Thursday.
Also, I-95 South, line painting, left lane closed on ramp to U.S. Route 322 Bridge (Commodore Barry Bridge) 9 p.m.-5 a.m. weekdays.
U.S. Route 13 North/South – Marcus Hook, Trainer and Chester, road work between Route 452 and Ridley Creek 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
I-95 North/South – Tinicum, overhead sign inspection, one lane closed between Route 420 and Route 291, 9 a.m.-noon weekdays.
I-476 North/South (Blue Route) – guiderail work, shoulder/partial lane restrictions between MacDade Boulevard and Chemical Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays in a moving operation.
I-95 North/South – guiderail work with shoulder/partial lane restrictions between Philadelphia city line and Delaware state line 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays in a moving operation.
Kerlin Street – Upland and Chester, sidewalk repairs between Upland Road and I-95 on-ramp 7 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Upland Avenue – Upland and Chester, milling between Edgmont and Upland avenues 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Thursday-Friday.
Edgmont – Sweetwater Road, base repairs between Valley and Creek roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Also, Sweetwater Road, paving between Glen Mills and Valley roads 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Wednesday-Thursday.
U.S. Route 202 – Concord, paving between Pennsylvania state line and Smithbridge Road 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Thursday-Friday.
Thornbury – Thornton Road, headwall repairs between Derry and Buck Run roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Upper Providence – Bishop Hollow Road, Aqua utility installation between Cape Cod Drive and Toftwoods 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through May 23.
Haverford – Marple Road, utility installation at Darby Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through June 27.
Also, Darby Road, utility installation at College Avenue and Williams Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-June 27.
Also, Darby Creek Road, utility installation at Darby Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through June 27.
Brinton Lake Road – Concord and Thornbury, paving between Route 1 and Dilworthtown Road 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Wednesday-Thursday.
Springfield – Baltimore Pike, Aqua utility installation between Route 320 (Sproul Road) and Paper Mill Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 30. Work began April 21.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.