Road Watch Col. –for Oct. 25
(PA. Driving Falls During August)
Pennsylvanians drove 3.1 percent less during August compared to the same period last year, according to the latest federal vehicle-miles-traveled report. Nationally, driving was essentially flat.
Pennsylvanians drove about the same number of miles during June and July 2009 as they did during the same months in 2008. However, driving fell sharply in August compared to the same month last year. Overall, summer driving in the state was virtually flat compared to 2008.
In August, Pennsylvanians drove 307 million fewer miles, a decrease of 3.1 percent compared to August 2008. Pennsylvania is one of 11 states that posted decreases in August, according to recent Federal Highway Administration data.
Due to collection and analysis, federal highway data generally is released on a two-month delay.
Nationwide, Americans drove about the same, 0.7 percent more or 1.9 billion more vehicle miles than in August 2008. Cumulative travel for this year is the same compared to the same period last year.
“Throughout the summer, Pennsylvanians were conservative in their driving,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Catherine Rossi.
“August is usually a heavily traveled month as families try to squeeze in vacations, but Pennsylvanians held back on travel,” she said.
The least traveled month was January, with a 4.5 percent decrease compared to the same month last year.
Traffic Delays
Baltimore Pike – Middletown and Upper Providence, paving between Route 352 and State Street, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.-5 a.m. weekdays.
Blue Route (I-476) North/South – Springfield, Nether Providence, Upper Providence, Marple, Haverford and Radnor, survey work with right shoulder closure between I-95 and Lancaster Avenue (Route 30) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday.
Brookhaven – Brookhaven Road, ADA ramp construction with restrictions between south Gray Street and Barlow Avenue 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Upland – Brookhaven Road, ADA ramp construction with lane restrictions between Trimble Boulevard and Bridgewater Road 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Tinicum and Chester – Fourth Avenue, ADA ramp construction between Second Street and Governor Printz Boulevard 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Also, Second Street, ADA ramp construction at Madison Street in Chester, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Chester – Kerlin Street, ADA ramp construction between 10th and 14th streets, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Chester – Commodore Barry Bridge East, bridge work, right lane closed on bridge 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays, 24-hour restriction.
Also, westbound right lane closed on bridge weekdays.
Chester – Second Street, bridge work with intermittent traffic stoppages between Reaney and Flower streets 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays.
Chester – Third Street, bridge work, intermittent traffic stoppages between Reaney and Flower streets 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays.
Barry Bridge – Chester, ramp construction with stoppages in both directions on bridge 12:01-5 a.m Friday.
Aston – Concord Road, curb installation between Lehr Boulevard and Village Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday.
I-95 South – trenching with right shoulder closed between Naamans Creek Road and Chichester Avenue 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday.
Middletown – U.S. Route 1 South, overhead line work between Elwyn Road and Valleybrook Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. starting Wednesday and through Nov. 6.
Also, Lungren Road, SEPTA utility installation between Lenni Road and Parkmount Road 7 a.m.-4 p.m. starting Thursday and through Nov. 6.
Norwood – Chester Pike, PECO Energy installation between Ridley and Garfield avenues 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 4. Work began Oct. 21.
Baltimore Pike (Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement between Darlington Road and Station Road, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12. Cost is $4.27 million; contractor is J.D. Eckman Inc.
Upper Darby – Garrett Road, PECO installation between Wembly and Bayard roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Upper Chichester -- Naamans Creek Road (Route 491), utility installation by the Southern Delaware County Sewer Authority, closed/detoured between Meetinghouse and Larkin roads, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 24. Work began Sept. 28. Detour posted.
Naamans Creek Road – Chadds Ford, utility installation between U.S. Route 202 and I-95, 9 a.m.-3 p.m weekdays through Nov. 13. Work began Oct. 12.
Baltimore Pike (Route 1) – Middletown, Aqua Pa. utility installation between Black Horse Lane and Valley Road 8 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays through Nov. 30.
Baltimore Avenue – Lansdowne, East Lansdowne, Upper Darby, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation, closed/detoured between Church Lane and Lansdowne Avenue, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., detour posted weekdays through Nov. 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.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.