October 16, 2020 – Construction at the Interstate 95/Bridge Street Interchange continues this fall as the contractor prepares to reconstruct the northbound lanes of I-95 between Levick and Carver streets, and construct the northbound side of bridges over Comly and Van Kirk streets in Philadelphia.
Following the traffic shift in late September, which moved the three northbound and southbound lanes on I-95 to the southbound side and rebuilt median area, preparation to reconstruct the northbound lanes, as well as the two bridges, is underway.
Southbound and northbound I-95 are reduced to three lanes each from just south of the Cottman Avenue Interchange through the Bridge Street exit during this stage and future stages of the three-year BS1 project.
The pattern will be reversed in late 2021 for reconstruction of the southbound lanes and bridges at the northern end of the Bridge Street Interchange.
All on and off-ramps at the Bridge Street Interchange will remain open during BS1 construction.
During early-stage work that, over the next year, will totally reconstruct the northbound side of I-95, crews milled and cleared the existing pavement on the northbound side and removed parapet rails from the northbound side of the bridges. Once the old pavement is removed, the contractor will begin excavation to install the project’s stormwater drainage system and begin demolition of the northbound side of the two bridges and start construction of foundations for the bridges’ abutments.
Work also continues on Tacony Street as the contractor constructs retaining walls along the northbound side of I-95 and installs the stormwater drainage system for the rebuilt interstate. In late September, Tacony Street was reduced to a single lane in each direction for approximately one year between Devereaux Street and Carver Street, with a center turn lane at intersections.
Drainage work this fall also will take place on Barnett and Milnor streets beneath the approach to the Tacony Palmyra Bridge.
Three travel lanes in each direction will remain open during peak travel times, though periodic off-peak lane closures may be in place on I-95 during certain stages of construction operations.
Work on this project is being done in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and jobsite cleaning protocols, management of entries to the jobsite, special signage, and relevant training.
Section BS1 is the first of two contracts to reconstruct mainline I-95 at the Bridge Street Interchange. A second mainline reconstruction project at the interchange, Section BS2, is currently in design and will move to construction following completion of Section BS1 in late 2022.
The H&K Group, Inc. of Skippack, Montgomery County, is the project’s general contractor.
