November 1, 2022 – Reconstruction and widening of the southbound side of Interstate 95 at the northern end of the Bridge Street Interchange will shift to the center area this fall as work crews finish the southbound pavement (see below) and two southbound bridges and then move on to replace the median, the final major stage of the Section BS1 project.
Meanwhile, PennDOT’s contractor on Section BS2, reconstruction of the Bridge Street Interchange, begins early-stage work on surface streets in the area between Carver and Margaret streets later this fall.
Work on the southbound sides of the existing bridges over Comly Street and Van Kirk Street will be completed in early fall, finishing construction of the new bridges. The northbound sides of the new structures were built under the previous stage of the Section BS1 contract on the northbound side of the interstate.
On completing the new southbound pavement from Levick Street to Carver Street, the BS1 contractor will establish a new work area in the center of the interstate to finish reconstruction of the median pavement and installation of the new median barrier/glare screen across the project area (see right).
PennDOT completed northbound widening and reconstruction — the first major stage of work on the $79.7 million Section BS1 contract — in 2022 and installed a new traffic pattern moving three northbound and three southbound lanes onto the rebuilt northbound side in January 2022.
Section BS1 mainline construction will finish by spring 2023. Mainline work to rebuild the I-95 pavement, relocate the I-95 bridge over Carver Street (Section BS2), and totally reconstruct the on-off ramps at Bridge Street is then expected to begin.
Prior to beginning mainline work, the BS2 contractor will begin to ramp up this fall, working mainly on surface streets in the project area. The northbound off-ramp to Bridge Street also may close by the end of 2022 so that the contractor can begin retaining wall construction along the northbound side of I-95.
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.
However, a number of different traffic patterns will be in place on the surface streets at the interchange (Bridge Street, Tacony Street, Aramingo Avenue) during BS2 construction which also includes replacement of the I-95 viaduct at the interchange and relocation of the southbound off-ramp to James Street.
Motorists are advised to allow extra time for travel through all I-95 work areas.
The H&K Group, Inc. of Skippack, Montgomery County, is the Section BS1 general contractor. James J. Anderson Construction, of Philadelphia, is the general contractor on the $267.9 million Section BS2 contract.
