July 14, 2025 – Deck construction on the new southbound viaduct at the Interstate 95 Bridge Street Interchange is underway this summer under PennDOT’s $268 million I-95/BS2 project to reconstruct and widen I-95 in both directions between Margaret Street and Carver Street at the Bridge Street Interchange in Northeast Philadelphia.
Crews are placing reinforcing steel (rebar) in advance of the paving set to begin this summer at the northern end of the new viaduct that passes over Bridge, Tacony, and several other surface streets (see above) before connecting with new at-grade paving at the southern end of the job.
Two of the four new retaining walls have been completed and two remain under construction (see below) along the southbound side, north and south of the viaduct. The walls will help support embankments that will carry a continuous fourth lane through the interchange, along with a new off-ramp at James Street.
As the retaining walls are built, the new stormwater drainage systems are being installed in advance of construction of sections of the new southbound pavement and the new southbound off-ramp.
The new ramp will replace the southbound ramp to James Street that was closed last summer. It will pass under I-95 between Fraley and Van Kirk streets through a new underpass to a new signalized interchange on Tacony Street north of Bridge Street.
The southbound side of the new ramp underpass remains under construction as part of southbound reconstruction and widening.
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.
A new water main has been installed under Tacony Street, and sewer line construction continues along with PECO electric and gas lines on surface streets at the interchange.
During this stage of reconstruction:
Construction of a new on-ramp to I-95 north at the Tacony Street Interchange and construction of an adjoining section of the Delaware Avenue Extension continue with base paving of the Extension expected this summer. The Extension that will connect with the new ramp is the initial stage of extending Delaware Avenue from its current terminus along the river near Buckius Street. The bulk of the extension will be built under Section BS5, which is tentatively slated for construction beginning in 2027.
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.
