April 2018 – Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is finishing its installation of a new gas mains under Richmond Street, and Philadelphia Electric (PECO) has begun relocating utility poles as part of the first stage of reconstruction and improvement of Richmond Street between Ann Street and Westmoreland Street (I-95/AF1).
Philadelphia Water (PWD), PECO and other utilities will upgrade subsurface lines on Richmond Street in 2018 to set the stage for PennDOT to begin rebuild the roadway by early 2019.
In 2019, Richmond Street will be widened by two feet from Ann Street to Allegheny Avenue, with the northbound and southbound travel lanes each being widened by one foot. As a result, the reconstructed sidewalks may be two feet narrower on the east side of the street.
The roadway and SEPTA Route 15 trolley tracks and catenary poles all will be reconstructed from Ann Street to Westmoreland Street, and new ornamental pedestrian-scale street lighting (or conventional street lights on wooden poles) will be installed and street trees will be planted where possible.
Also, Melvale Street will be widened to create additional on-street parking in the project area.
The Richmond Street project is the first stage in the larger reconstruction of I-95 between Allegheny Avenue and Frankford Creek (I-95/AFC).
