January 27, 2026 – Work zone setup activities are expected to wrap up in early 2026 for reconstruction of northbound Interstate 95 at the Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange under PennDOT’s $355.3 million Section BR3 project to reconstruct, widen, and improve northbound I-95 between Wheatsheaf Lane and Margaret Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
Crews have been working since mid-2025 to remove the median barrier and repave it for use as work area travel lanes. Following work in the median, a crossover will be built at the southern end of the work zone to shift traffic into the new pattern. (This pattern expands the existing pattern through the work area at the Bridge Street Interchange to create a continuous three-lane pattern through approaching the Cottman Avenue Interchange.)
Once the new traffic pattern is in place in early spring, three lanes each of southbound and northbound I-95 traffic will shift to the median and southbound side between the Betsy Ross Bridge and Allegheny Avenue interchanges. Northbound reconstruction will then get underway.
Later this year, the southern end of the work zone will expand to accommodate northbound reconstruction under the Section AF3 project, which will reconstruct, widen, and improve northbound and southbound I-95 at the northern half of the Allegheny/Castor Avenue Interchange.
PennDOT will coordinate BR3 northbound reconstruction with the Section BS2 and Section AF3 projects.
Section BR3, the third of five contract sections to reconstruct and improve I-95 at the Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange, continues PennDOT’s long-term commitment to rebuilding and improving the aging I-95 infrastructure in Pennsylvania.
In addition to reconstructing and widening northbound I-95 from three lanes to four lanes between the Wheatsheaf Lane underpass to just north of Maragret Street, Section BR3 will realign Pearce Street to connect to Orthodox Street; replace the northbound I-95 bridge over the Frankford Creek; rehabilitate two ramps and replace two other ramp structures with at-grade fill; and construct new retaining walls, and erect new sound walls.
The southbound side of I-95 at the Interchange will be completed under the BR4 contract that is tentatively scheduled to go to construction in 2029 or 2030.
PennDOT completed Sections BR0 (2017) and BR2 (2023), which reconstructed numerous ramps and bridges at the interchange. Ground-level and utility work was also completed under these projects. Go here for more details.
Haines & Kibblehouse Construction of Skippack, PA, is the general contractor.
