June 30, 2026 – Placement of additional deck beams for the expanded cover over Interstate 95 and Christopher Columbus Boulevard is scheduled to resume later this year as the remaining sections of the support pier on the east side of I-95 are completed through next spring.
No new/additional travel restrictions will be in place on I-95, Columbus Boulevard, and other regional highways this summer until after Philadelphia’s 250th Birthday Celebration event, the FIFA World Cup, and the MLB All-Star Game.
Beam setting will again require overnight closures of a short section of northbound I-95 and Columbus Boulevard. During these operations, motorists will experience detours that will be announced in advance of the closures.
Eighteen deck beams were placed in late May during overnight operations (see above, below).
Assembly of the new South Street Pedestrian Bridge extension in a lot on the east side of I-95 is expected to begin this fall. The steel structure – a signature, tied-arch extension of the existing pedestrian bridge over I-95 (see rendering below) – will allow pedestrians to access Penn’s Landing from Center City by crossing over Columbus Boulevard.
When finished, the extension will be lifted into place over Columbus Boulevard and anchored to piers on both sides of the riverfront arterial. The existing pedestrian bridge remains open during this work with only minor interruptions. Pedestrians and cyclists will also be able to travel between Penn’s Landing and Front Street using Dock and Market streets during construction.
Much of the utility work along Columbus Boulevard and Front Street has been completed.
Temporary lighting has been installed on Columbus Boulevard under the in-place deck beams.
Under this $328.9 million project, PennDOT is building a new, larger covering over I-95 and Columbus Boulevard between Chestnut and Walnut streets at Penn’s Landing in Center City.
In addition to replacing the cap over I-95 between Chestnut and Walnut streets, the I-95 Central Access Philadelphia (CAP) Project will improve pedestrian, bicycle, and multi-modal connections between Center City and the waterfront.
The project, which is being financed with federal, local, and private funds, will add a new Park at Penn’s Landing and a new signature pedestrian bridge at South Street.
The new park will be an 11.5-acre civic space spanning I-95 and Columbus Boulevard between Chestnut and Walnut streets, extending from Front Street to the Delaware River. It will include gardens, play areas, flexible open space, and a mass-timber pavilion. The Irish and Scottish memorials that were temporarily moved to Spruce Street for CAP construction also will be returned to a new, permanent area on the new I-95 covering.
Additional project details, construction updates, and other information will be available on this website and at ParkatPennsLanding.com.
