October 3, 2024 – Significant progress has been made as the reconstruction of the southbound side of Interstate 95 at the Bridge Street Interchange heads into the fall months. The second major stage of PennDOT’s $268 million I-95/BS2 project will reconstruct and widen I-95 in both directions between Margaret Street and Carver Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
With six lanes of I-95 traffic – three northbound and three southbound – moving through the work area on the northbound side, old concrete pavement has been removed and four retaining walls remain under construction (see below) along the southbound side. The walls will help support embankments that will carry a continuous fourth lane through the interchange and a new off-ramp at James Street.
As the retaining walls are completed, PennDOT’s contractor will begin installing the new stormwater drainage systems before beginning construction of sections of the new southbound pavement later this year.
The existing southbound off-ramp to James Street also was permanently closed in July. Crews at that location will construct a new off-ramp that will pass under I-95 between Fraley and Van Kirk streets to a new signalized interchange at Tacony Street north of Bridge Street. Following demolition of the existing southbound side of the I-95 bridge over Fraley Street this summer, work is now underway on a section of the new overpass that will move southbound traffic exiting I-95 to the new interchange complex at Tacony Street.
During construction, traffic previously exiting southbound I-95 at Bridge Street is detoured to the Aramingo Avenue exit at the Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange, then north on Aramingo back to Bridge Street.
South of James Street, construction continues to progress on the new southbound viaduct between Bridge Street and Margaret Street. Deck construction begins this fall following the completion of beam setting that got underway in September (see below).
Utility work on surrounding surface streets by a number of subcontractors also continues, including installation of a water main under Tacony Street and electrical services along Aramingo Avenue and at the extension of Delaware Avenue.
During this stage of reconstruction:
Additional work under Section BS2 includes constructing a new on-ramp to I-95 north at the Tacony Street Interchange and construction of a section of the Delaware Avenue Extension.
Section BS2, the second of five contracts to reconstruct Interstate 95 and improve the Bridge Street Interchange, is expected to be completed in 2027. PennDOT completed Section BS1 reconstruction to rebuild and widen I-95 between Levick and Carver streets in early 2023.
During all upcoming Section BS2 work, 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.
James J. Anderson Construction, of Philadelphia, is the general contractor on Section BS2.
