ROAD WATCH column for July 20
The Delaware County Transportation Management Association is doing its part to take motor vehicles off the road.
It’s started a pilot program for the rest of the summer condensing the work week for some staff and teleworking one day a week for others.
“As an organization, we’ve been promoting the financial and environmental benefits of condensed work weeks and teleworking for years, so we have decided to get in the game ourselves,” said Cecile Charlton, DCTMA executive director.
“It’s no secret that traffic congestion and high gas prices have many local commuters on edge, and I want my staff to be fresh and stress-free when they come to work,” she said.
“I want to make it easier on their commute, and on their pocketbooks,” Charlton said.
It may not seem to be much, but taking four cars a week off area roads for the next few months is a start, she said.
“If we were all able to find a way to leave our cars at home – even just one day a week – can you imagine the impact it would have on the bigger picture?” she said.
Charlton says she has asked her employees to keep a diary or blog of their experience over the next few months which will be posted on the organization’s Web site.
In a few months, they’ll assess the office productivity and experiences, “…and see if we can find some common ground on a permanent basis,” Charlton said.
The DCTMA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the transportation network serving the county.
Maybe their gas-conservation effort will catch on with other employers and employees. A Road Watcher salute to DCTMA.
63RD & MARKET STREETS
The busy intersection at 63rd and Market streets, a major connection with points in West Philadelphia and Center City, reopen 4 a.m.Monday, July 21.
But motorists beware: it will be closed again – this time 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.
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.
BRIDGE INSPECTIONS
PennDOT has scheduled lane restrictions on I-95, I-676 and the Roosevelt Boulevard (Route 1) this week in Philadelphia for bridge inspections.
BLUE ROUTE
The left lanes will be closed on I-476 North/South in Delaware and Montgomery counties for vegetation control. Crews will work 9 a.m.-3 p.m.July 21-22.
Also, overnight and daytime lane closures are scheduled today through Wednesday on I-476 between the I-76 and Ridge Pike interchanges in West Conshohocken and Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, for crossover and shoulder construction, and to remove debris from a bridge pier.
PHILADELPHIA
There will be lane and shoulder closures affecting I-95 and three ramps on I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) this week for barrier construction.
Motorists are advised to allow additional time to travel on I-95 and I-76 because backups may occur.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
I-476 North/South – various municipalities, vegetation control with lane restrictions between I-95 and Germantown Pike 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Tuesday.
Middletown – Route 352 North, inlet repairs between Knowlton and Glen Riddle roads 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Tuesday.
Concord Road – Aston and Chester Township, patching between Engle Street and Dutton Mill Road 9 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays.
U.S. Route 1 North/South – Haverford, bridge wall repairs at Township Line Road 8 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Baltimore Pike (Route 1) North/South – Middletown, patching between Ridley Creek Road and Elwyn Road 9 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.
Radnor – Spring Mill Road, PECO Energy utility installation between Lancaster Avenue (Route 30) and Hilldale Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekays through July 29.
Upper Darby – Lansdowne Avenue, PECO utility installation between Ardmore Avenue and Hardwood avenues 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through July 31. Work began July 10.
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.
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.