March 30, 2026 – When reconstruction and widening of southbound Interstate 95 at the Bridge Street Interchange finishes this spring, PennDOT’s contractor will begin work in the center of the interstate for several months before shifting into northbound reconstruction this summer.
Southbound reconstruction, which includes a new southbound viaduct over Bridge and Tacony streets (see above), is the first major stage of PennDOT’s $268 million I-95/BS2 project to reconstruct and widen I-95 in both directions between Margaret Street and Carver Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
Crews this spring will wrap up work on four lanes of new southbound pavement, complete the new southbound structures, and install southbound soundwalls (see below) before shifting southbound traffic to the southbound side for several months. Among the southbound structures nearing completion is half of a new underpass that will carry the new southbound off-ramp at James Street under I-95 to a new Bridge Street Interchange under construction along Tacony Street.
The new Bridge Street Interchange, which will be situated between Fraley and Van Kirk streets, will also include a new northbound on-ramp and construction of a section of the Delaware Avenue Extension that will connect directly to I-95 North. (The Extension will eventually connect with Delaware Avenue from its current terminus along the river near Buckius Street. The bulk of the extension will be built under Section BS5 that is tentatively slated for construction beginning in 2027.)
Work on BS2 will be coordinated with northbound reconstruction currently underway at the Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange immediately to the south.
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 Avenue back to Bridge Street. (Northbound I-95 motorists heading to Bridge Street will permanently use the exit at the Betsy Ross Bridge and also take Aramingo Avenue north to Bridge Street.)
The northbound on-ramp from Bridge Street will remain open until a later stage of BS2 construction.
Section BS2, the second of five contracts to reconstruct Interstate 95 and improve the Bridge Street Interchange, is expected to be completed in 2028. 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.
