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DRIVERS DRIVING LESS
FOR MARCH 22—Road Watch…
Miles Less Traveled
Pennsylvanians and the rest of the country continue to drive less, according to the Federal Highway Administration, which shows the trend of fewer vehicle miles traveled that began in late 2007 and continued into this year.
In January, Pennsylvanians drove 353 million fewer miles, a decline of 4.5 percent, compared to January 2008. Nationall, Americans drove 7 billion fewer miles or 3.1 percent less for the same period. Only five states have posted slight increases.
According to the FHWA, this is the first “back-to-back” decline for January since 1981-1982. The decline now exceeds 122 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT), compared to the same 14-month period – December 2006 to January 2008 – a year earlier.
In 2008, driving in the state dropped by 835 million vehicle miles of travel, down 0.8 percent compared to the previous year. Nationally, driving fell by 107.9 billion, a decline of 3.6 percent.
“Clearly, some economic conditions are having a prolonged effect on our driving habits,” says AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Catherine Rossi.
“Some people aren’t commuting because they no longer have jobs and lower gas prices aren’t pushing drivers back out on the road,” she said. “We expect that we will continue to see fewer vehicle miles being driven this year – at least for the foreseeable future.”
TURNPIKE WORK
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission cautions motorists that a 14-mile stretch of the toll road will be closed in both directions for six hours this weekend, March 22/23, between Valley Forge Exit 326 and Downingtown Exit 312 to allow a contractor to demolish the bridge that carries Route 252 over the turnpike in Tredyffrin, Chester County.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. today, all westbound turnpike traffic will be diverted off at the Valley Forge Interchange, Montgomery County, and all eastbound turnpike traffic will be diverted at the Downingtown Interchange.
The turnpike will re-open to traffic by 6 a.m. Sunday, March 22.
All motorists exiting the turnpike at the Valley Forge and Downingtown interchanges, including E-ZPass customers, will be handed an alternate route card at the toll booth which provides the best route to re-enter the turnpike.
Designated E-ZPass lanes will be disabled and the state police and turnpike personnel will be available to help motorists.
Once all turnpike traffic is clear of the demolition zone, the contractor will have six hours to complete the demolition and clean-up. Bi-directional, single-lane traffic restrictions will continue after the turnpike reopens at 6 a.m. for additional construction work within the one-mile work zone.
All lanes will be open and traffic will be fully restored by 10 a.m. today.
The $4.8 million Valley Forge Road Bridge project is the first of two bridges targeted for replacement as part of the total reconstruction and six-lane widening of the turnpike from milepost 320 to milepost 326 (Valley Forge Interchange).
U.S. Route 202
Motorists on Route 202 in Chester County will encounter nighttime lane closures this week for guide rail installation between the Route 401 and Route 29 interchanges in East Whiteland, PennDOT said.
The route’s northbound/southbound left lanes will be closed Monday-Thursday from 10 p.m. each night until 5 a.m. the next morning.
Traffic Delays
Route 352 – Middletown and Brookhaven, patching between Glen Riddle and Brookhaven roads 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday.
I-476 North/South (Blue Route) – Radnor and Marple, raised pavement markers, left lane closed between Montgomery County line and West Chester Pike (Route 3), 9 p.m.-5 a.m. March 30-31.
I-476 South – raised pavement markers, left lane closed between West Chester Pike and I-95.
U.S. Route 13 North/South (Chester Pike) – Yeadon, patching between MacDade Boulevard and Baltimore Avenue 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Tuesday.
Prospect Park – Amosland Road, replacement of CSX railroad crossing, closed/detoured weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. between Urban and Baldwin avenues March 23-27.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Cresswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and through Aug. 28. Work began March 9.
Marple — Media Line Road, Aqua utility installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May. Work began Jan. 12.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
U.S. Route 1 North — Middletown, PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through April 1. Work began Dec. 22.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.
Miles Less Traveled
Pennsylvanians and the rest of the country continue to drive less, according to the Federal Highway Administration, which shows the trend of fewer vehicle miles traveled that began in late 2007 and continued into this year.
In January, Pennsylvanians drove 353 million fewer miles, a decline of 4.5 percent, compared to January 2008. Nationall, Americans drove 7 billion fewer miles or 3.1 percent less for the same period. Only five states have posted slight increases.
According to the FHWA, this is the first “back-to-back” decline for January since 1981-1982. The decline now exceeds 122 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT), compared to the same 14-month period – December 2006 to January 2008 – a year earlier.
In 2008, driving in the state dropped by 835 million vehicle miles of travel, down 0.8 percent compared to the previous year. Nationally, driving fell by 107.9 billion, a decline of 3.6 percent.
“Clearly, some economic conditions are having a prolonged effect on our driving habits,” says AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Catherine Rossi.
“Some people aren’t commuting because they no longer have jobs and lower gas prices aren’t pushing drivers back out on the road,” she said. “We expect that we will continue to see fewer vehicle miles being driven this year – at least for the foreseeable future.”
TURNPIKE WORK
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission cautions motorists that a 14-mile stretch of the toll road will be closed in both directions for six hours this weekend, March 22/23, between Valley Forge Exit 326 and Downingtown Exit 312 to allow a contractor to demolish the bridge that carries Route 252 over the turnpike in Tredyffrin, Chester County.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. today, all westbound turnpike traffic will be diverted off at the Valley Forge Interchange, Montgomery County, and all eastbound turnpike traffic will be diverted at the Downingtown Interchange.
The turnpike will re-open to traffic by 6 a.m. Sunday, March 22.
All motorists exiting the turnpike at the Valley Forge and Downingtown interchanges, including E-ZPass customers, will be handed an alternate route card at the toll booth which provides the best route to re-enter the turnpike.
Designated E-ZPass lanes will be disabled and the state police and turnpike personnel will be available to help motorists.
Once all turnpike traffic is clear of the demolition zone, the contractor will have six hours to complete the demolition and clean-up. Bi-directional, single-lane traffic restrictions will continue after the turnpike reopens at 6 a.m. for additional construction work within the one-mile work zone.
All lanes will be open and traffic will be fully restored by 10 a.m. today.
The $4.8 million Valley Forge Road Bridge project is the first of two bridges targeted for replacement as part of the total reconstruction and six-lane widening of the turnpike from milepost 320 to milepost 326 (Valley Forge Interchange).
U.S. Route 202
Motorists on Route 202 in Chester County will encounter nighttime lane closures this week for guide rail installation between the Route 401 and Route 29 interchanges in East Whiteland, PennDOT said.
The route’s northbound/southbound left lanes will be closed Monday-Thursday from 10 p.m. each night until 5 a.m. the next morning.
Traffic Delays
Route 352 – Middletown and Brookhaven, patching between Glen Riddle and Brookhaven roads 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday.
I-476 North/South (Blue Route) – Radnor and Marple, raised pavement markers, left lane closed between Montgomery County line and West Chester Pike (Route 3), 9 p.m.-5 a.m. March 30-31.
I-476 South – raised pavement markers, left lane closed between West Chester Pike and I-95.
U.S. Route 13 North/South (Chester Pike) – Yeadon, patching between MacDade Boulevard and Baltimore Avenue 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Tuesday.
Prospect Park – Amosland Road, replacement of CSX railroad crossing, closed/detoured weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. between Urban and Baldwin avenues March 23-27.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Cresswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and through Aug. 28. Work began March 9.
Marple — Media Line Road, Aqua utility installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May. Work began Jan. 12.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
U.S. Route 1 North — Middletown, PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through April 1. Work began Dec. 22.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.
posted by John Roman at
8:18 AM
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