For Jan. 10…Road Watch col.
(PennDOT to shift Blue Route Traffic Pattern for next stage of construction)
Early Tuesday morning, PennDOT plans to shift the Blue Route (I-476) traffic pattern near the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) Interchange for the next stage of construction to rehabilitate bridges over the Schuylkill River.
The express-lane traffic pattern on I-476 near the I-76 Interchange in West Conshohocken and Plymouth Township in Montgomery County will move from the southbound to the northbound side of the highway. Construction will then begin on the next phase of the $47.4 million project to repair/rehabilitate the 35-year-old twin bridges spanning the Schuylkill River.
The Blue Route’s new traffic pattern within the bridge construction zone will have two southbound lanes running on the southbound side of the highway.
A third southbound lane will cross over and run on the northbound side of I-476 to cross over the bridge. This lane will then shift back to the southbound side of I-476 just south of the bridge.
I-476 North will carry three northbound travel lanes plus the southbound express lane.
Motorists traveling on I-476 between I-76 and Ridge Pike interchanges can expect to face lane closures and slowdowns from 10 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday while crews paint traffic lines to implement the new traffic pattern in the construction zone.
PennDOT District Executive Lester Toaso advised southbound I-476 motorists to avoid using the express lane if they want to exit at the I-76 Interchange. I-476 South drivers will not be able to access the I-76 exit ramp if traveling in the southbound express lane.
PennDOT is using the express-lane pattern, which places one travel lane on the opposite side of the highway within the construction zone, to keep three travel lanes open in each direction on I-476 and to expedite construction.
“We are cutting by a year the time to rebuild the I-476 bridges with the use of the express-lane pattern,” Toaso said. “This pattern allows us to keep six travel lanes open and to accelerate the construction schedule by providing the contractor with a larger area in which to work.”
PennDOT began construction to rehabilitate the bridges last March. The project is scheduled to finish in December 2010.
Crews worked the past 10 months on the northbound bridge and this year they will rebuild the southbound structure.
Once the new traffic pattern is in place this week, crews will work on I-476 South weeknights 10 p.m.-5 a.m. for about two weeks to set construction barriers in place and secure the barriers to the bridge deck to create a protected work zone on the bridge.
I-476 South will be reduced from three lanes to two during this overnight operation. When the barriers are in place, crews will then begin work to rebuild the western half of the southbound I-476 bridge.
This portion of I-476 carries between 128,000 to 145,000 vehicles a day.
Driver License Center Closings
All driver license and photo centers will be closed Saturday and Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online.
Commodore Barry Bridge
Intermittent traffic stoppages are scheduled 12:01-5 a.m. Monday on the Commodore Barry Bridge and the I-95 ramps to the bridge in Chester, including the Ninth Street ramp to the bridge for bridge construction.
The work is part of PennDOT’s $71 million project to construct two new ramps off the bridge to provide direct access between I-95 and Route 291 (Second Street). Construction is scheduled to finish in 2011.
Crews are building a new ramp off the approach to the bridge to enable I-95 motorists to exit onto Route 291. A second ramp being built off the bridge will allow Route 291 drivers to reach I-95.
I-95 Bridge Repairs
Lane restrictions are scheduled this week on I-95 North/South in Philadelphia for bridge repairs.
Weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m., I-95 North/South will be restricted between Girard Avenue and Woodhaven Road (Route 63) for bridge structure repairs.
Northbound traffic on the I-95/Girard Point Bridge in Philadelphia will be reduced from three lanes to two weekdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for the installation of painting platforms.
Also, lane restrictions are scheduled on I-95 and I-676 in the city weekdays this week for a series of bridge inspections.
Traffic Delays
I-95 South – Lower and Upper Chichester, Chester, Intelligent Transportation System foundation installation, lane restrictions between Naamans Road and Highland Avenue 9 p.m.-5 a.m. weeknights.
I-95 North – Lower and Upper Chichester, Chester, ITS foundation installation, lane restrictions between Naamans Road and U.S. Route 322, 9 p.m.-5 a.m. weeknights.
I-95 North/South – Upper and Lower Chichester, Chester City, Chester Township and Upland, trenching with shoulder closures between Naamans Creek Road (Route 491) and Broad Street, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
I-95 North ramp – Tinicum, trenching, right shoulder closed on ramp to Industrial Highway (Route 291) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions, through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Route 320 (Madison Street) – Chester, ADA ramp construction, lane restrictions between Fifth and 22nd streets, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions, through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12 on the $4.2 million project by J.D. Eckman Inc.
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.