ROAD WATCH FOR Jan. 17
SEPTA Regional Rail routes will operate with new schedules starting today.
Media/Elwyn R3 – most mid-day service to Elwyn will operate uop to 7 minutes later due to several construction projects. Trains will depart Suburban Station in Philadelphia from 10:12 a.m. until 2:12 p.m.
Norristown R6 – mid-day weekday service has been restored to pre-2009 schedule times. Inbound trains will operate from Norristown Transportation Center from 9:05 a.m. until 3:29 p.m.
Outbound trains are scheduled to depart Suburban Station from 8:53 p.m. until 2:43 p.m.
The new schedules are currently available on the SEPTA Web site at www.septa.org/schedules/upcoming.html.
Passengers will also be able to pick up new timetables at Market-East, Suburban and 30th Street stations and SEPTA sales offices.
You can also call the Customer Service Department at 215-580-7800.
Commodore Barry Bridge
On Tuesday, between 12 and 4 a.m. there will be two 15-minute traffic stoppages in both directions on the Commodore Barry Bridge to accommodate work being done on an ongoing construction project.
The work involves placement of steel beams on the bridge. It 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.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
All state driver license and photo centers will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online.
SEPTA transit and regional rail services will operate on regular weekday schedules for the observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Day Monday. Regular weekday peak and off-peak fares will be in effect during the day.
Personalized Plates
Drivers can now go online to check the availability of personalized license plates from PennDOT.
Pennsylvanians have requested that the option to check personalized license plates availability be available online.
To check for the latter, visit www.dmv.state.pa.us and select “Online Driver and Vehicle Services.” Individuals may apply for a personalized license plate by completing Form MV-904.
There are about 276,000 personalized plates in use across the state.
Blue Route Lane Closures
Nighttime lane closures will continue this week for motorists traveling on the Blue Route (I-476) in Montgomery County as crews continue preparations for the February start of southbound reconstruction between the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Mid-County Interchange and the I-76 Interchange, PennDOT said.
I-476 South will be reduced from three lanes to two lanes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Mid-County Interchange (Exit 20) through the I-76 Interchange (Exit 16) tonight through Thursday 10 p.m.-5 a.m. the following morning.
I-476 North will be reduced from three lanes to two from just south of the I-76 Interchange (Exit 16) to the Ridge Pike Interchange (Exit 18) tonight through Thursday from 10 p.m. each evening until 5 a.m. the following morning.
In addition to the lane closures, motorists may encounter traffic pattern shifts at on- and off-ramps at both Exit 16 and Exit 18 during the nighttime operations.
The scheduled lane closures will be in place as part of two separate projects currently under way on this stretch of the Blue Route which involve work to improve the twin spans over the Schuylkill River.
Improvements to the northbound bridge were completed in 2009.
Traffic Delays
I-95 North – Upland, Chester City, Chester Township, Ridley Township, Intelligent Transportation System Foundation installation with lane closures between U.S. Route 322 and the Blue Route (I-476) 9 p.m.-5 a.m. today through Friday.
I-95 South – Ridley Township, Tinicum and Ridley Park, ITS installation with lane closures between Route 291 and the Blue Route, 9 p.m.-5 a.m. today through Friday.
Nether Providence – Baltimore Pike, core boring with lane restrictions between Grandview and Beatty roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
Brookhaven and Chester – ADA ramp construction with restrictions at Providence Avenue 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Tinicum – Fourth Avenue, ADA ramp construction with lane restrictions at North Governor Printz Boulevard 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Also, Jansen Avenue, ADA ramp construction with lane restrictions at Second Avenue 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Springfield – Springfield Road, Aqua Pennsylvania utility installation with restrictions at Netherwood Drive 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Collingdale – MacDade Boulevard, utility installation with restrictions between Felton and Roberta avenues 5:30 p.m.-7 a.m. weeknights through Feb. 5. Work began Jan. 11.
Commodore Barry Bridge West – Chester, bridge work, right lane closed on the bridge with a 24-hour closure through Aug. 31. Work began Dec. 14.
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.
Chester – Flower Street, Barry Bridge ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth Street and Second Street, 24-hour restriction, through 2011. Work began January 2009.
Chester – Norris Street, bridge ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restrictions through 2011. Work began January 2009.
Road Watch appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.