July 17, 2024 – A traffic shift and ramp closure in late spring marked the beginning of reconstruction of the southbound side of Interstate 95 at the Bridge Street Interchange, the second major stage of PennDOT’s $268 million I-95/BS2 project that will reconstruct and widen I-95 in both directions between Margaret Street and Carver Street in Northeast Philadelphia.
PennDOT’s contractor placed temporary pavement on the northbound side of the interstate to allow six lanes of traffic – three northbound and three southbound — to be moved onto the northbound side in late June.
The southbound off-ramp to James Street also was permanently closed at this time. Crews will construct a new off-ramp that will pass under I-95 between Fraley and VanKirk streets to a new signalized interchange on Tacony Street north of Bridge 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 to Bridge Street.
Following demolition of the existing southbound side of the I-95 bridge over Fraley Street this summer, work will also begin on the southbound side of a new overpass.
Workers this summer are excavating the existing I-95 southbound pavement, constructing retaining walls to support embankments for widening the southbound side, beginning construction of a section of the Delaware Avenue Extension, and continuing construction of the new southbound viaduct between Bridge Street and Margaret Street.
Utility work on surrounding surface streets by a number of subcontractors also continues this summer.
Once the existing southbound pavement is removed and retaining walls are in place, PennDOT’s contractor will begin installing the new stormwater drainage systems before beginning construction of sections of the new southbound later this year.
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.
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.
