ROAD WATCH -- July 13
Upper Darby and Millbourne Police prepared to handle expected traffic problems from nine-day shutdown of 63rd & Market sts. Intersection…
Upper Darby and Millbourne police chiefs say they are prepared to handle any traffic problems that may occur with the nine-day closing of the 63rd and Market streets intersection due to El reconstruction.
SEPTA commuters and motorists face a double-edged nightmare that began Friday night with the closing of the busy intersection which is a major connection with points in West Philadelphia and Center City.
The intersection will be closed until 4 a.m. July 21, and then again for 16 days between 7 p.m. Aug. 8 until 4 a.m. Aug. 25. The closure is necessary for the final phase of rebuilding SEPTA’s century-old Market Street Elevated infrastructure.
As in past summers, shuttle buses will replace El service between 69th Street Terminal in Upper Darby and 40th Street Station in West Philadelphia during the closing of the 63rd Street intersection.
For motorists who usually head into the city via 63rd Street and eastbound Chestnut Street, congestion is expected on Marshall Road, Haverford Avenue, Lansdowne Avenue, Baltimore Pike and Garrett Road as a result of the closure.
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said this weekend the regular squads and patrols will be monitoring the situation as traffic dictates.
Starting Monday and through Friday, between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., the department will have six officers on overtime, the cost being absorbed by SEPTA, Chitwood said.
They will work the following locations: Garrett Road and Victory Avenue; 69th and Market streets; 69th and Ludlow streets; 69th Street and Marshall Road; Marshall and Powell roads; and Marshall and Cobbs Creek Parkway, he said.
This will also be done in August, he said.
“Now certainly as traffic patterns dictate, we may have to shift our resources, but that’s how we’re going to start out,” Chitwood said.
“Our hope is that motorists will find alternative routes,” he said. And that motorists will assist police in keeping the streets safe, he added.
Millbourne Police Chief David McCann said his department has been working closely with police from Upper Darby, Philadelphia and SEPTA.
“In fact, we have played a major part in the weekend ones as well, so we do have personnel deployed for it,” he said.
McCann said his department will try and make it run as smoothly as possible.
SEPTA's Community Information Center provides passengers, residents and businesses with information on the El reconstruction project.
Information on all SEPTA service is available by calling (215)580-6484 or (215)580-7800.
Motorists take note: with the reports in the Daily and Sunday Times the past few days and the various signs scattered about the area advising you about the shutdown, I hate to be an “I-told-you-so” if you don’t seek alternate routes and get stuck in traffic jams.
WANAMAKER ROAD CLOSING
Aqua Pennsylvania will close Wanamaker Avenue between the Industrial Highway (Route 291) and Second Street in Tinicum starting 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, July 21, for water main installation, PennDOT said.
Wanamaker Avenue will be closed weekdays through Oct. 31.
During construction, Aqua will detour Wanamaker Avenue through traffic over Route 291, Jansen Avenue and Second Street.
Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when driving through the area.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
Ridley Township – Lincoln Avenue (Route 420), PECO installation between Eighth and 10th avenues, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through July 24. Work began July 3.
Middletown/Chester Heights – U.S. Route 1 North/South, bridge repairs over Chester Creek Monday-Thursday.
Thornbury – Creek Road, pipe cleaning between Tanguy and Sweetwater roads 8 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Ridley Township – Route 291 North/South, milling/paving between Stewart Avenue and Crum Creek 6 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays.
Media, Middletown, Edgmont and Thornbury – line painting on state roads 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Motorists are urged to stay an ample distance behind line-painting trucks and stay off traffic lines.
Chester – Flower Street, ramp construction, closed/detoured between Second and Front streets, 24-hour detour posted through Sept. 8. Began July 7.
Haverford – Darby Road, road widening/utility installation by Goldenberg Group, closed/detoured between Route 320 and Marple Road, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays through July 25. Detour posted. Work began May 27.
Chester Township – Concord Road, utility installation between Commerce Drive and McDonald Boulevard 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Sept. 25. Work began Feb. 19.
Amosland Road – Prospect Park and Norwood, Aqua installation between MacDade Boulevard and Chester Pike, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 29. Work began June 30.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.