July 20, 2022 – Reconstruction and widening of the southbound side of Interstate 95 at the northern end of the Bridge Street Interchange in Philadelphia is progressing toward completion later this year as the contractor finishes work on two bridges and expands paving operations this summer.
Installation of the project’s upgraded stormwater management system’s pipes and inlets on I-95 and the adjacent section of Tacony Street finished this spring. (The completed rebuilding on the northbound side also included extensive improvements to I-95’s stormwater drainage system.)
The contractor then began placement of the asphalt base paving and concrete pavement from Levick Street to Comly Street and will continue these paving operations along the entire southbound work area through the fall.
The southbound sides of the existing bridges over Comly Street and VanKirk Street, which connect to the northbound sides of the new structures that were built under the previous stage of the Section BS1 contract, are nearing completion. The VanKirk Street Bridge deck was placed earlier this summer while the Comly Street overpass deck is scheduled to be placed by mid-summer.
Construction of the southbound retaining walls adjacent to the Amtrak Northeast Corridor rail lines between Levick and Carver streets was completed earlier this summer. Construction of the reinforced shoulders and adjacent barrier is currently underway.
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.
Reconstruction of the southbound lanes is expected to complete Section BS1 late this year or in early 2023.
The southern portion of I-95 at the Bridge Street Interchange, including its ramps, will be rebuilt and widened under Section BS2, which is anticipated to begin later this year.
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.
All on and off-ramps at the Bridge Street Interchange will remain open during BS1 construction.
Motorists are advised to allow extra time for travel through the work areas.
The H&K Group, Inc. of Skippack, Montgomery County, is the project’s general contractor.
