For Oct. 26 -- ROAD WATCH
PennDOT is reminding teen drivers and their parents/guardians to be aware of the behaviors that cause most teen-driver crashes.
While Pennsylvania has had a reduction in crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers over the past several years due in part to the state’s graduated driver-licensing program, “many teen drivers still do not appreciate the complexity of driving,” says PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler.
“Drivers must constantly evaluate complex situations, make split-second decisions and perform intricate maneuvers,” he pointed out.
“A teen driver’s lack of experience and potential for risk-taking can be a dangerous, and sometimes deadly, mix,” Biehler said.
National Teen Driver Safety Week ended Saturday.
There were 9,833 crashes involving a 16- or 17-year-old driver in Pennsylvania in 2007, resulting in 104 fatalities.
Although more than one factor may contribute to a crash, statistics show that driving too fast for conditions, driver inexperience, and improper or careless turning were the main causes of those crashes.
About 37 percent of the crashes involving a 16- or 17-year-old driver in 2007 involved at least one of these factors.
Additionally, driver distractions, such as using a cell phone, text messaging, having other teen passengers in a vehicle with the teen driver, adjusting the radio or eating while driving, are also major contributors to highway crashes as these behaviors take the teen driver’s full attention away from the driving task.
Driver distractions contributed to nearly 1,000 crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers in 2007.
PennDOT says the risk of a crash involving any of these factors can be reduced through practice, limiting the number of passengers a teen driver can have in a vehicle, setting a good example for the teen driver, abiding by the law and exercising common sense.
SEPTA SCHEDULES
SEPTA’S new Regional Rail schedules effective today will reflect the addition of eight recently purchased railcars to increase peak-hour seating capacity by 1,800 each weekday.
The railcars were acquired from New Jersey Transit to help ease overcrowding and will be added to trains on the R2 Wilmington-Newark, R3 Media-Elwyn, R3 West Trenton, R5 Paoli-Thorndale and R7 Trenton lines.
Passengers may pick up schedules at Market-East, Suburban and 30th Street stations and SEPTA sales offices.
A new R2 Wilmington-Newark train has been added to the schedule and will depart Marcus Hook Station at 7:02 p.m. weekdays. The addition of a new train will allow the R2 train departing Newark Station at 6:46 p.m. on current weekday schedules to operate express service between Marcus Hook and University City stations.
In addition, the R2 train departing Newark at 6:48 a.m. will now serve passengers at Norwood Station each weekday.
The R3 train departing Elwyn Station at 7:47 a.m. on current weekday schedules will now depart Elwyn four minutes earlier. This train which will operate with additional capacity will serve all stations up to Secane and then operate express service to University City Station.
BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE
On Tuesday, at 7 a.m. the Fifth Street vehicular tunnel under the Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed to traffic for electrical repairs.
The tunnel is scheduled to reopen 3 p.m. Thursday.
Traffic will be detoured to use the left side of Fifth Street to Race Street.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
I-95 North – Chester, overhead bridge repairs between Highland Avenue exit and Commodore Barry Bridge exit 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 27-28.
I-95 North – Tinicum, crack sealing between Route 420 and Philadelphia County line 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 28.
I-95 South – Chester, overhead bridge repairs between Commodore Barry Bridge exit and Highland Avenue exit 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday.
I-476 North/South (Blue Route) – Ridley Township, Nether Providence, Springfield and Marple, reflective pavement marker installation, lane closure between Route 322 and Chester County line Thursday and Nov. 3-5, 9 p.m.-6 a.m.
Route 1 North/South – Chadds Ford and Concord, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation with lane restrictions between Black Horse Lane and Route 352 (Middletown Road) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 19. Work began Oct. 27.
Route 1 South – Middletown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation between Middletown Road and Elwyn Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 19. Work began Oct. 27.
Upper Chichester – U.S. Route 322 East/West (Conchester Highway) crack sealing between I-95 and Cherry Tree Road 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday.
Springfield Road – Darby Borough and Collingdale, PECO utility installation between South Ridge Road and Lynbrook Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 3
U.S. Route 13 North (Chester Pike) – Eddystone and Ridley Park, crack sealing between Bullens Lane and Route 420, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 27.
Upper Providence – Ridley Creek Road, pipe installation, closed/detoured between Kirk Lane and Rose Tree Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 27-30.
Media Line Road – Marple and Newtown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation, closed/detoured between Route 3 and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 15. Work began Oct. 6.
Upper Darby – Lansdowne Avenue, PECO installation between Garrett and Marshall roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 31. Work began Sept. 22.
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.
Haverford – Darby Road closed/detoured between Route 320 and Marple Road, road widening/utility installation, weekdays and Saturdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Nov. 24. Work began May 27.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

The fall season not only brings on a beautiful array of colors in the surrounding foliage, but also warrants cautious driving.As fair weather fades, road hazards such as wet leaves, frost and glare from sunlight during morning and evening rush hours can make driving more hazardous.To face the seasonal change, "motorists need to slow down and pay closer attention to their surroundings," says PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler. "Motorists need to slow down and pay closer attention to their surroundings," he said. "Increasing following distances and allowing extra room for stopping helps to decrease your chances of being involved in a crash."Some fall hazards are predictable, such as the times for sunrise and sunset more closely align with morning and evening rush hours. Intense glare from the sun on the horizon then can blind a driver, causing an unexpected traffic slowdown.Drivers can prepare for the glare by keeping a set of sunglasses handy and removing clutter from their sun visors.A less predictable, but still manageable hazard is leaves on the roadway. Leaves make driving more dangerous by obscuring traffic lines and other pavement markings.Wet leaves can be as slippery as ice on the roadway - not only for motor vehicles but also bicycles. Like the time I was cycling to Flat Rock Park at the Schuylkill River via Montgomery Avenue and Old Mill Creek Road in Montgomery County after traveling through Ardmore. I hit the brakes - which did nothing - and slid on leaves right through the intersection. Luckily no cars were coming.Motorists should slow down and use extra caution on leaf-covered roadways.As overnight temperatures dip toward freezing as we get deeper into autumn, morning frost and icy spots on the road can also be a hazard.Motorists should pay particular attention to bridges, overpasses and shaded areas on roadways where icy spots can form on the pavement. In addition to exercising caution while driving, motorists should clear their vehicles' windows of frost before travel.PennDOT offers the following fall driving tips:BULLET Increase your following distance in severe weather, at dusk and dawn when in an area with wet leaves. If you are being tailgated, let the other driver pass.BULLET Check your vehicle's headlights, tail lights and turn signals to ensure they are working properly since darkness will be a part of many driver's morning and/or evening commutes. If your vehicle is not equipped with a sensor, make sure you turn on your headlights as the sunlight fades.BULLET Have your vehicle's heating and wiper systems checked to ensure they are working properly. As a reminder, under state law, when your wipers are on, your headlights also must be on.BULLET Be sure you have tires with sufficient tread depth in case of an early-season snowfall. TRAFFIC DELAYSI-95 North/South - Lower Chichester, Upper Chichester, Chester, Upland, Ridley Township, Ridley Park and Tinicum, vegetation control, lane closure between Chichester Avenue and Route 291, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.I-476 North/South (Blue Route) - Ridley Township, Nether Providence, Springfield and Marple, reflective pavement marker installation, lane closure between I-95 and West Chester Pike (Route 3), 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Monday-Thursday.Chadds Ford - Ridge Road, pipe installation, closed/detoured between U.S. Route 202 and Ring Road, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. Detour posted.I-95 North - Ridley Township, bridge inspection, right lane closed on bridge over Darby Creek 9 a.m.-noon Thursday.Also, I-95 South, Ridley Township, bridge inspection, right lane closed on bridge over Darby Creek noon-3 p.m. Thursday.I-95 North - ramp to I-476 North, Ridley Township, bridge inspection, right lane closed on ramp 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday.Springfield Road - Darby Borough and Collingdale, PECO utility installation between South Ridge Road and Lynbrook Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 3Media Line Road - Marple and Newtown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation, closed/detoured between Route 3 and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 15. Work began Oct. 6.Nether Providence - Rose Valley Road, utility installation, closed/detoured between Golf View and Hawthorne roads, 24-hour detour posted through Monday. Work began Sept. 29.Springfield - Thomson Avenue closed/detoured, Aqua installation between Baltimore Pike and Route 320 (Sproul Road), 24-hour detour posted through Wednesday. Work began Sept. 24. Upper Darby - Lansdowne Avenue, PECO installation between Garrett and Marshall roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 31. Work began Sept. 22.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 Saturday. 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. Haverford - Darby Road closed/detoured between Route 320 and Marple Road, road widening/utility installation, weekdays and Saturdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Nov. 24. Work began May 27. "Road Watch" appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

For Oct. 12 column, Road Watch…

As daylight hours shrink this time of year, motorists are reminded by PennDOT to be on the lookout for white-tailed deer darting onto roads across the state.
“We typically see an increase in the number of deer-related crashes at this time of year,” says PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler.
“Deer are very unpredictable, but motorists can reduce their risk of being involved in a crash with a deer by driving defensively and staying alert, especially when driving between dusk and dawn,” he said.
Deer are most active during the fall, particularly between sunset and sunrise. According to PennDOT statistics, 46 percent of all reportable crashes involving a deer in the past five years have occurred in the months of October and November, with 90 percent happening in clear weather.
Last year, there were 2,482 crashes statewide involving deer, resulting in 596 injuries and eight fatalities. Between 2003 and 2007, there were 12,442 crashes involving deer, resulting in 44 fatalities and 3,038 injuries.
During the fall, deer move around more, travel longer distances and are less wary of their surroundings, increasing the potential for collisions with vehicles.
The possibility of a deer-related crash further increases in October as thousands of hunters take to the woods for the opening of the archery and small-game seasons.
The following list includes the number of fatalities, injuries and crashes per year, respectively: 2003 – 14 fatalities, 672 injuries, 2,526 crashes; 2004 – 2, 585, 2,396; 2005 – 9, 575, 2,341; 2006 – 11, 610, 2,697; and 2007 – 8, 596, 2482.
GOOD GAS NEWS
There was good news for once for motorists Friday as the five-county Philadelphia gas average fell overnight to $3.29, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.
The Pennsylvania gas average fell 4 cents to $3.30. The South Jersey gas average fell 4 cents to $3.01.
The national gas average went down 5 cents to $3.35 on Friday.
A week ago, the average for the five-county region was $3.49; a month ago it was $3.57.
GLENOLDEN
At 9 a.m. Monday, Amtrak has scheduled railroad bridge-painting work at Chester Pike (Route 13) and South Avenue. Work will be done 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays until completed.
Glenolden Police Chief Michael Donohue said the work will take at least a week, maybe two.
There will be detours on East/West South Avenue before Chester Pike and lane changes/reductions on Chester Pike.
Motorists should expect traffic delays in the area.
I-76 & UNIVERSITY AVENUE
Friday began 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 began 10 p.m. Friday and will end 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.
TRAFFIC DELAYS
I-95 North/South – Lower Chichester, Upper Chichester, Chester, Upland, Ridley Township, Ridley Park and Tinicum, vegetation control with lane closure between Chichester Avenue and Route 291, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
I-476 North/South (Blue Route) – Ridley Township, Nether Providence, Springfield and Marple, reflective pavement marker installation with lane closure between I-95 and Route 3 (West Chester Pike), 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
Newtown – St. Davids Road, bridge repairs with lane restrictions under the Route 252 overpass 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
Radnor – U.S. Route 30 East/West, inlet repairs between Conestoga Road and Wayne Avenue 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
Springfield Road – Darby Borough and Collingdale, PECO utility installation between South Ridge Road and Lynbrook Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday through Nov. 3
Media Line Road – Marple and Newtown, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation, closed/detoured between Route 3 and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 15. Work began Oct. 6.
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.
Upper Darby – Lansdowne Avenue, PECO installation between Garrett and Marshall roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Oct. 31. Work began Sept. 22.
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.
Haverford – Darby Road closed/detoured between Route 320 and Marple Road, road widening/utility installation, weekdays and Saturdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Nov. 24. Work began May 27.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.

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.