BSR/BRI/Aramingo Avenue Construction Update: Summer 2017

Ramp Construction Heading for Fall Completion; Adams Avenue Improvements Ramp-up 

July 2017 – As construction to improve ramp connections between Interstate 95, the Betsy Ross Bridge and surface streets in the vicinity of the interchange heads for completion this fall, work continues on improvements to Aramingo Avenue and on Adams Avenue in the vicinity of the interchange. The following is a summary of the improvements that have been completed or will continue through summer.

The Ramps

• Aramingo Avenue to I-95 South: This ramp has been rebuilt and was opened to traffic in early Spring.
• I-95 South to the Betsy Ross Bridge and Aramingo Avenue: Crews finished constructing the permanent approach to this new, dual ramp (right) and reopened the portion of the ramp to Aramingo Avenue in mid-July.  Access from I-95 south to the bridge remained open during construction of the new ramp.
• Aramingo Avenue to I-95 South & North: This dual-direction ramp (below) has been reconstructed, widened and reopened.
• Betsy Ross Bridge to Aramingo Avenue: This new ramp, which originally ended east of I-95 as an unfinished stub, is now in place from the stub end, which was demolished and rebuilt, to where it ties-in to the new ramp from I-95 South to Aramingo Avenue. That combined ramp merges with the fly-over ramp from I-95 north to Aramingo Avenue.
• I-95 North to Aramingo Avenue: Widening at the lower end of this ramp that rises up and over I-95 north continues while the ramp remains in service. The widened structure will merge with two other ramps (from I-95 south and from the bridge) to create a single ramp that ends at the complex that is under construction on the west side of Aramingo Avenue.  
• Aramingo Avenue to the Betsy Ross Bridge: Crews will place the concrete deck for the section of the ramp that slips under two ramps and over I-95 to merge with the new ramp from I-95 south to create a direct connection from Aramingo and Adams avenues to New Jersey. 

Aramingo Avenue Improvements

Widening continues on the west side of the Aramingo Avenue bridge over Frankford Creek (right). It’s the first stage of the widening of Aramingo Avenue between Church Street and Wheatsheaf Lane that will improve access to and from the new and rebuilt ramps to and from I-95 and the Betsy Ross Bridge.

Over three-plus years of construction on the $81 million project, Aramingo Avenue will be widened to four lanes between Wheatsheaf Lane and Church Street, with turn lanes to Church Street, the ramps to I-95 and the bridge, and to Adams Avenue (Adams Avenue Connector), which also is being improved as part of this project.

Adams Avenue Connector

Installation of a new water main on the east side of Torresdale Avenue between Frankford Avenue and Adams Avenue, part of early-stage construction on the Adams Avenue Connector, has been completed. Work is underway this summer to install a new main on the west side of Torresdale Avenue. 

Construction of the realigned intersection of Tacony Street and Adams Avenue also is underway (left) with utility work and drainage installation among the early activities there. Demolition of several properties on Adams Avenue and on Ashland Street east of Torresdale Avenue will take place this summer.

PennDOT is reconstructing, extending and improving Adams Avenue (Adams Avenue Connector) between Torresdale Avenue and Aramingo Avenue. The segment of existing Adams Avenue from Torresdale Avenue and Ashland Street is being rebuilt. Construction of the new,  mile-long extension of Adams Avenue from Ashland Street to Aramingo Avenue and the ramps to and from I-95 and the bridge is scheduled to get underway this fall?.

In addition to the new $81 million contract to improve Aramingo Avenue and Adams Avenue, PennDOT is investing $160.2 million to improve the interchange. Four additional contracts will complete improvements to the interchange’s ramp system and reconstruct almost one mile of I-95 at the interchange.

PennDOT is maintaining three travel lanes in each direction on I-95 at the interchange during construction; however, overnight lane closures may occur during traffic pattern changes and for stages of construction in the center of the interstate.