PennDOT Completes Construction on Richmond Street Improvement Project in Philadelphia

September 18, 2020 – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that construction has been completed on a project to reconstruct and improve Richmond Street between Ann Street and Westmoreland Street in Philadelphia’s Port Richmond neighborhood.

“This is one of the numerous quality of life improvements PennDOT is making across adjacent communities as we reconstruct I-95 in Philadelphia,” PennDOT District 6 Executive Kenneth M. McClain said. “In addition to rebuilding the transportation infrastructure, this project upgraded water, sewer and gas line municipal infrastructure for many residents and businesses along Richmond Street in Port Richmond.”

Under the I-95/Section AF1 project, PennDOT:

• Reconstructed Richmond Street between Ann Street and Westmoreland Street, including minor widening between Ann Street and Allegheny Avenue to better accommodate public transit riders;
• Replaced numerous utilities along Richmond Street, including installation of new water and gas mains and connections to individual properties in the project area;
• Improved the stormwater drainage system;
• Reconstructed the SEPTA Westmoreland Loop terminal;
• Replaced the SEPTA trolley tracks and catenary poles;
• Constructed raised curb extensions (bump-outs) for improved safety at the transit stop at Clearfield Street;
• Replaced Richmond Street curbs, sidewalks, and traffic signals;
• Installed painted crosswalks and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramps at intersections;
• Widened and repaved Melvale Street and Emery Street to provide additional on-street parking for residents;
• Installed new ornamental, pedestrian-scale street lights; and
• Planted more than 60 trees along the improved section of Richmond Street.

While major construction has been completed, SEPTA will be performing work through October at the Westmoreland Loop Terminal to finish the installation of catenary wires on Richmond Street.

A.P. Construction, Inc. of Blackwood, New Jersey, was the general contractor on the $32.6 million project that was financed with 90 percent federal and 10 percent state funds.

The Section AF1 improvement project is the first of four contracts included in the I-95/Section AFC project area that will completely reconstruct and improve 1.5 miles of I-95 and its bridges from just south of the Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange at Frankford Creek to just south of the Allegheny Avenue ramps, including improvements to the interchange at Allegheny/Castor Avenue.

Section AFC is one of the five project areas under PennDOT’s long-term, multi-phase program to rebuild and improve approximately 8 miles of I-95 north of Center City Philadelphia.

For a complete list of construction projects impacting state-owned highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, visit our District 6 Traffic Bulletin.