Road Watch col. For Oct. 5…
(First of 12 Weekend-long lane closures on I-76 at University Ave. begins Friday, Oct. 10)
Friday begins the first of three weekends this year – and nine weekends next year – that the Schuylkill Expressway will be reduced to one lane at the University Avenue/Grays Ferry Avenue Interchange (Exit 346B) in Philadelphia.
The restriction will be in place 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Oct. 13 for the placement of a new concrete surface on the adjoining nine-span and 16-span bridges carrying the expressway over the Schuylkill River, CSX railroad tracks, Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street.
The single-lane westbound pattern also will occur the weekends of Oct. 31-Nov. 3 and Nov. 7-10.
Weather permitting, crews will replace expansion joints, remove one inch of old concrete pavement from the bridges and place a new one-inch concrete overlay on the structures. This will make the bridge decks water tight and extend the life of the decks 25 years.
PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso urged motorists to use SEPTA or take alternative routes instead of traveling on I-76 in this part of the city to avoid lengthy backups and delays during the work weekends. I-76 in this area carries 129,000 vehicles a day.
“Closing a lane on the Schuylkill Expressway for an entire weekend is certainly out of the ordinary, but there isn’t enough room on the bridges to resurface the decks safely without closing a travel lane,” he said.
“We are scheduling the work weekends as best as possible to avoid major events in the city and at the sports complex in South Philadelphia,” Toaso said.
He advised motorists – especially those coming from the sports complex to follow I-95 North to I-676 West to reach I-76 in Philadelphia or take I-95 South to the Blue Route North (I-476 North) to arrive at I-76 in Montgomery County.
In conjunction with this project, the Vare Avenue ramp to I-76 West will close 10 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Oct. 13 because the ramp enters the expressway on the structure over Grays Ferry Avenue.
A posted detour will take motorists over University Avenue, 38th Street, Market Street and Schuylkill Avenue to reach I-76 West.
BLUE ROUTE
Overnight lane closures will occur this week on the Blue Route (I-476) in Delaware and Montgomery counties for conduit installation and construction of cross-over lanes in the median.
Today-Wednesday, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the left lanes of I-476 North/South will be closed between I-76 and Ridge Pike interchanges in Montgomery County to build cross-over lanes in the median.
Monday-Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the right lanes of I-476 North/South will be closed just north of the MacDade Boulevard interchange in Delaware County for conduit installation.
Tuesday-Wednesday overnight, the right lanes of I-476 North/South will be closed just south of the I-76 interchange in Montgomery County for conduit installation.
Thursday-Friday overnight, the right lanes of I-476 North/South will be closed at the Ridge Pike interchange in Montgomery County for conduit installation.
I-76 and Route 1
Lane closures are scheduled this week on the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) and Route 1 in Philadelphia and Montgomery County for paving and tree removal. Slowdowns are expected to occur during evening and overnight hours.
Today, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., the right lane will be closed on Route 1 North between Wissahickon Avenue and Broad Street in Philadelphia for tree trimming.
Monday-Friday, 8 p.m.-5 a.m., one lane will be closed on I-76 East/West between Belmont and City Line avenues in Lower Merion for line painting and reflector installation.
Monday-Friday, 8 p.m.-5 a.m., one lane will be closed on I-76 East/West between Croton Road to I-476 in Lower Merion for milling/paving.
I-95 Bridge Repairs
Lane restrictions are scheduled on I-95 North in South Philadelphia for bridge repairs.
Tuesday-Friday, 9 p.m.-5 a.m., one lane will be closed on the Front Street/Walt Whitman Bridge ramp to I-95 North for bridge deck repairs.
U.S. ROUTE 202
Lane restrictions are scheduled on U.S. Route 202 North/South between Route 30 and Route 100 interchanges in West Goshen, West Whiteland and East Whiteland, Chester County, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday for rumble strip installation.
Backups are expected to occur during the slow moving operation.
MARPLE/NEWTOWN
Aqua Pennsylvania will close Media Line Road between Morton Street and Gradyville Road in Marple and Newtown starting Monday for water main installation.
Media Line Road will be closed 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 15.
During construction, Media Line Road traffic will be detoured over West Chester Pike (Route 3) and Newtown Street. Motorists are advised to allow extra traveling time.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
Ridley Township – MacDade Boulevard, crack sealing between Fairview Road and Bullens Lane 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Tuesday.
Chadds Ford – Route 202 South, roadway research, right lane closed between Dilworthtown and Oakland roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday.
U.S. Route 1 North/South -- Chadds Ford and Concord, reflective marker installation between U.S. Route 322 and the Chester County line 10 p.m. 5 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
Upper Chichester – Route 322 East/West, crack sealing between I-95 and Cherry Tree Road 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Friday.
Nether Providence – Rose Valley Road, utility installation, closed/detoured between Golf View and Hawthorne roads, 24-hour detour posted through Oct. 20. Work began Sept. 29.
Springfield – Thomson Avenue closed/detoured, Aqua installation between Baltimore Pike and Route 320 (Sproul Road), 24-hour detour posted through Oct. 22. Work began Sept. 24.
Haverford – Darby Road closed/detoured between Route 320 and Marple Road, road widening/utility installation, weekdays and Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Nov. 24. Work began May 27.
Ridley Park – Sellers Avenue, Aqua Pennsylvania water main installation, lane restrictions between Chester Pike and Ward Street 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 25. Work began Aug. 27.
Tinicum – Wanamaker Avenue, utility installation by Aqua Pennsylvania, closed/detoured between Route 291 and Second Street, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 31. Work began July 21.
Upper Darby – Lansdowne Avenue, PECO installation between Garrett and Marshall roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 31. Work began Sept. 22.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.