August 14, 2020 – Construction this summer is underway in the median area of Interstate 95 at the northern end of the Bridge Street Interchange as crews prepare a new traffic pattern that will be in place by early fall for reconstruction of the northbound lanes and construction of the northbound side of two bridges between Levick and Carver streets.
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.
With temporary construction barriers put in place earlier this summer to create a protected work area in the center of I-95, PennDOT’s contractor under the current stage of the project is removing the median barrier, paving the median, installing storm-water drainage, and building crossovers for a long-term traffic pattern. By mid-September, crews will shift three lanes of northbound and southbound vehicles to the west (southbound) side and middle of I-95 and begin reconstruction of the northbound lanes and I-95 bridges over Comly Street and VanKirk Street.
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.
In addition to work on I-95’s mainline, work is underway on Tacony Street between Levick Street and Bridge Street to improve the stormwater drainage on this surface street.
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.
Motorists are advised to allow extra time for travel through the work areas.
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.
