April 27, 2023 – Construction on the new ramps from the Betsy Ross Bridge and Aramingo Avenue to southbound Interstate 95 continues this spring. A new concrete deck was installed last fall on the ramp from the Bridge, and concrete placement began in early spring on the at-grade structure at the lower end of the connection to I-95 south (see below, right).
The ramp construction is part of PennDOT’s $93 million I-95/BR2 project to replace four ramp structures at the I-95/Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange in Philadelphia.
The new ramp from the Bridge sweeps over the interstate before turning south to merge with the ramp from Aramingo Avenue on their descent to southbound I-95. The section of the ramp from Aramingo Avenue to I-95 south has been under construction since mid-2022. Deck beams will be erected in early May, completing the connection between the two ramp sections.
During ramp construction, all traffic to I-95 south continues to run through the interchange at Aramingo Avenue, using the westbound Adams Avenue Connector as part of the detour route. Motorists are being directed to the I-95 south on-ramp at the Bridge Street Interchange. The detour will remain in place until the ramps are completed and opened to traffic in mid-2023.
Additional ramp construction at the interchange continues on the connection from northbound I-95 to the Bridge. This ramp construction is phased to allow it to remain open to traffic during construction and is expected to be completed in mid-2023.
The partially rebuilt ramp from the Bridge to northbound I-95 reopened in fall 2022 along with the ramp from southbound I-95 to Aramingo Avenue, which was closed during construction on the overhead ramp from the Bridge.
On April 27, PennDOT will permanently close the northbound off-ramp at Bridge Street (Exit 27) for improvements to that interchange and improved safety on surface streets there. Bridge traffic normally using that ramp, along with northbound I-95 traffic heading to Bridge Street, will be directed to Aramingo Avenue and the surface streets at Bridge Street.
Improvements completed in 2020 on the west side of the Betsy Ross interchange — including widening Aramingo Avenue between Wheatsheaf Lane and Church Street and construction of the Adams Avenue Connector — were designed to better manage traffic flow to and from Bridge Street.
In addition, the Adams Avenue Connector was opened to two-way traffic between Aramingo Avenue and Torresdale Avenue in December 2022. Access from the Connector to new ramps to the bridge and I-95 south will be opened at the completion of ramp construction in late summer 2023.
Two additional contracts, Sections BR3 and BR4, will reconstruct almost a mile of I-95’s mainline between the Betsy Ross Bridge and Bridge Street interchanges. Section BR3, which will reconstruct the northbound lanes of I-95 and replace two additional ramps, is scheduled for construction in 2024. Southbound I-95 reconstruction at the interchange is currently scheduled for 2026. The first ramp replacement contract at the interchange, Section BR0, was completed in 2017.
