For April 12----ROAD WATCH Col.
(Repairs start tonight on 39 bridges on I-95)
Structural repairs will begin tonight on 39 bridges on I-95 between the Blue Route (I-476) and Neshaminy Creek in Delaware, Philadelphia and Bucks counties, PennDOT reports.
The project is scheduled to finish in March 2010.
The work is part of a $10.8 million project to make bridge repairs.
Crews will initially close the two right lanes on the northbound/southbound I-95 off-ramps to Front Street in Philadelphia. Traffic in this area will be restricted weeknights 9 p.m.-4 a.m. for this week.
Motorists are urged to allow extra time when traveling through this area as backups may occur.
Last October, crews made repairs to the I-95 bridge over the Neshaminy Creek in Bensalem, Bucks County.
Under the project, crews will improve bridges on I-95 by repairing concrete bridge decks, piers, bridge bearings and expansion dams, and repairing structural steel beams and expansion joints.
“This project is part of our $41.5 million comprehensive program to keep I-95 in sound condition until major construction projects are ready to be built,” said PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso.
Scheduled for repairs in Delaware County is the I-95 North off-ramp to I-476 North in Ridley Township.
Aqua Work
Aqua Pennsylvania will close two roads in Haverford for water main installation starting April 20. Work is expected to be finished Aug. 28.
Coopertown Road will be closed between College Avenue and Darby Road, and College Avenue will be closed between Coopertown Road and Spring Mill Lane, PennDOT said. Work will be done 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Both roads will be detoured over Darby Road, Ardmore Avenue and Haverford Road.
Local access will be maintained up the construction zones. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
Schuylkill Expressway
Overnight lane closures are scheduled weeknights Monday-Thursday on I-76 East in Philadelphia and I-76 West in Montgomery County for bridge construction.
I-76 East will be reduced from two lanes to one at the University Avenue/Grays Ferry Avenue Interchange (Exit 346B) in Philadelphia Monday-Thursday 8 p.m.-5 a.m. for the replacement of expansion joints 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.
I-76 West will be reduced from two lanes to one between City Avenue (Exit 339) and Belmont Avenue (Exit 338) in Lower Merion, Montgomery County, Monday-Wednesday 10 p.m.-5 a.m. for bridge construction and inlet repairs.
The right lane of I-76 West will be closed Monday and Wednesday nights, and the westbound left lane will be closed Tuesday night. Backups are expected to occur during work hours.
Also, from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, I-76 East will be reduced from two lanes to one at the University Avenue/Grays Ferry Avenue Interchange for the placement of a new concrete surface on the two adjoining bridges. The single-lane restriction will be in effect for four weekends on I-76 West this year.
PennDOT urges motorists to use SEPTA or take alternate routes instead of traveling east on I-76 to avoid lengthy backups and delays during the work weekend.
Two alternate routes for drivers to avoid the construction area are to take I-676 East (Vine Street Expressway) to I-95 South in Philadelphia, and from Montgomery County, take I-476 South to I-95 North.
More I-76 Work
Overnight lane closures on I-76 will resume Wednesday on an $8.1 million project to make concrete repairs. Motorists are urged to allow additional travel time or use an alternate route because slowdowns will occur.
On Wednesday, 8 p.m.-5 a.m., the right lane on I-76 East will be closed between the Gulph Mills and I-476 interchanges in Lower Merion.
Thursday-Friday, 8 p.m.-5 a.m., the right lane on I-76 East will be closed at I-476 in Lower Merion.
April 20-21, 8 p.m.-5 a.m., the right lane on I-76 West will be closed at I-476 in Lower Merion.
April 22-23, 8 p.m.-5 a.m., the left lane on I-76 East will be closed at I-476 in Lower Merion.
April 24, 8 p.m.-5 a.m., the left lane on I-76 West will be closed at I-476 in Lower Merion.
This work is part of PennDOT’s project to resurface 12 miles of the Schuylkill Expressway.
Wynnewood Road
PECO Energy will restrict eastbound Wynnewood Road between Ballytore and Clothier roads in Lower Merion, Montgomery County, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 1 for gas main installation. Work began April 9.
Traffic Delays
Radnor – Lancaster Avenue (Route 30), traffic signal construction, right lane closed between Old Eagle School Road and Radnor-Chester Road, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
Media Line Road – Marple and Newtown, Aqua utility installation between Route 3 and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 1. Work began March 30.
Marple – Media Line Road, Aqua installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m weekdays through May 29. Work began Jan. 12.
Springfield – Thomson Avenue, Aqua trench restoration between Baltimore Pike and Sproul Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 8. Work began March 30.
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.
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.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.