BSR-BRI Project Overview

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Section BS2

Construction Cost: $267.9 million
General Contractor: James J Anderson Construction, Philadelphia PA
Construction Start: 2022
Construction Completion: Late 2026

Section BS2 will rebuild I-95 northbound and southbound from just north of Margaret Street to relocated Carver Street. This section includes removal of the southbound Bridge Street off-ramp at James Street. A new southbound off-ramp will connect directly to Tacony Street at the relocated Carver Street underpass. Also planned is a new on-ramp from Tacony Street and the Delaware Avenue extension to northbound I-95 in the vicinity of Arsenal Business Center and the new Dietz & Watson facility. When this new ramp is completed, the existing northbound I-95 on-ramp from Bridge Street will close. A significant aspect of this project is replacement of the viaduct that carries I-95 over Tacony Street and Bridge Street. Preliminary Engineering for this section finished in November 2011, and Final Design began in fall 2013. Construction is anticipated to start in 2022.

I-95/BS2 Details:

• Reconstruct northbound and southbound I-95 (four lanes in each direction) from just north of Margaret Street to relocated Carver Street. This includes the replacement of the viaduct that carries I-95 over Tacony Street and Bridge Street
• Replace the bridges that carry I-95 over Fraley Street and Carver Street
• Relocated the James Street off-ramp further north, connecting it to Tacony Street via a new underpass at relocated Carver Street. This ramp will also connect to the proposed Delaware Avenue extension
• Construct a new on-ramp to I-95 northbound from Tacony Street and the Delaware Avenue extension
• Remove the Bridge Street northbound on-ramp and bridge over Tacony Street and Bridge Street
• Reconstruct Tacony Street from Buckius Street to Comly Street
• Permanently close northbound I-95 off-ramp to Bridge Street
• Install a new traffic signal at the intersection of Tacony Street and relocated Carver Street
• Modify the traffic signals at the intersections of Bridge Street and Tacony Street, and at Bridge Street and James Street

Completed I-95 Lane Configuration

Completed Tacony Street Lane Configuration from Bridge Street to Comly Street

Completed Tacony Street Lane Configuration from Aramingo Avenue to Bridge Street

IN DESIGN

Section BS3

Construction Cost: TBD
General Contractor: TBD
Construction Start: 2026
Construction Completion: 2030

Section BS3 includes reconstruction of Aramingo Avenue from Church Street to Tacony Street, and then continuing north on Harbison Avenue up to the Amtrak overpass. Preliminary Engineering for this section finished in November 2011 and Final Design began in 2016.  Construction is anticipated to start in 2026.

I-95/BS3 Details:

• Aramingo Avenue at Orthodox Street
• Aramingo Avenue at Margaret Street
• Aramingo/Harbison avenues at Tacony Street
• Harbison Avenue at Tacony Street/Wakeling Street

Completed Aramingo Avenue Lane Configuration from Adams Avenue to Sepviva Street

Completed Aramingo Avenuet Lane Configuration at Orthodox Street, looking north

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED

Section BS4

Construction Cost: $81 million
General Contractor: AP Construction Co., Blackwood, NJ
Construction Start: January 2017
Construction Completion: Late 2020

Section BS4 included the remaining work to complete the reconstruction of the interchange ramps west of Aramingo Avenue. Section BS4 completed and opened the ramps connecting Aramingo Avenue to and from the Betsy Ross Bridge. It also included the reconstruction of Aramingo Avenue from Wheatsheaf Lane to Church Street, the construction of the Adams Avenue Connector, and the construction of the first section of the Frankford Creek Greenway. Construction began in January 2017 and was completed in late 2020.

I-95/BS4 Details:

• Reconstruct and widen Aramingo Avenue from Wheatsheaf Lane to Church Street
• Replace the Aramingo Avenue bridge over Frankford Creek
• Construct new ramps (Ramps D, F, JJ, KK) to connect Aramingo Avenue to I-95 north and south, and open the ramps connecting Aramingo Avenue to and from the Betsy Ross Bridge
• Construct the Adams Avenue Connector between Torresdale Avenue and Aramingo Avenue
• Construct a multi-use side path along Aramingo Avenue from Wheatsheaf Lane to Church Street, and along the Adams Avenue Connector

IN DESIGN

Section BS5

Construction Cost: TBD
General Contractor: TBD
Construction Start: 2025
Construction Completion: 2027

Section BS5 is for the extension of Delaware Avenue from Orthodox Street to Tacony Street in the vicinity of the new Honor Foods distribution center and Dietz & Watson facility. Preliminary Engineering for this section began in 2016, with construction anticipated to start in 2025.

I-95/BS5 Details:

PennDOT will extend Delaware Avenue from its current terminus at Orthodox Street further north along the waterfront, cross the Old Frankford Creek on a new bridge, and then turn west to intersect Tacony Street. A connection to Buckius Street and Richmond Street is also planned. Included will be the construction of a multi-use side path along the Delaware River with connections to the future Bridesburg Riverfront Park, the Frankford Boat Launch, and the Kensington and Tacony trail to the north.

Completed Tacony Street Lane Configuration from Aramingo Avenue to Bridge Street

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Section BR2

Construction Cost: $93.6 million
General Contractor: Buckley & Company, Philadelphia, PA
Construction Start: 2020
Construction Completion: 2023

Section BR2 includes additional ramp improvements at the I-95/Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange. Section BR2 began in 2020 and will replace four ramps.

I-95/BR2 Details:

• Replace the ramp structure from northbound I-95 that passes over the Frankford Creek and connects with the Betsy Ross Bridge
  • This ramp will be constructed one half at a time, allowing for one lane of traffic during construction
• Replace the ramp structure from the Betsy Ross Bridge to southbound I-95
  • This ramp will be closed and detoured for approximately 15 months during the middle stage of the two-and-a-half years of BR2 construction
• Replace the ramp structure from the Betsy Ross Bridge to northbound I-95
  • This ramp will be closed and detoured for approximately 10 months during the latter stage of the project
• Replace the ramp structure from Aramingo Avenue to southbound I-95
  • This ramp will be closed and detoured for approximately 10 months during the latter stage of the project
  • The ramp from Aramingo Avenue to northbound I-95, which splits from the ramp structure to southbound I-95, will remain open 

IN DESIGN

Section BR3

Construction Cost: TBD
General Contractor: TBD
Construction Start: 2024
Construction Completion: 2027

Section BR3 includes reconstruction of the northbound lanes of I-95 from Wheatsheaf Lane to just north of Margaret Street. Preliminary Engineering for this section finished in December 2011. Final Design began in late 2019, with construction anticipated to start in 2024.

I-95/BR3 Details:

• Widen and reconstruct northbound I-95 (expand from 3 to 4 travel lanes) from the northern limit of the structure over Wheatsheaf Lane to just north of Margaret Street
• Realign Pearce Street to connect to Orthodox Street
• Replace the I-95 northbound bridge over Frankford Creek
• Remove the I-95 northbound low-level structure from the Betsy Ross Interchange to Orthodox Street and replace with engineered fill
• Remove the northbound collector-distributor low-level structure from the Betsy Ross Bridge to Orthodox Street and replace with engineered fill
• Replace the I-95 northbound bridge over Orthodox Street and Pearce Street, and the I-95 northbound bridge over Margaret Street
• Rehabilitate the ramp (Ramp G) bridge that carries Aramingo Avenue traffic to I-95 north
• Rehabilitate the ramp (Ramp H) bridge that carries Betsy Ross Bridge traffic to I-95 north over Juniata Street and Almond Street
• Remove the existing ramp (Ramp Y) bridge and replace with fill
• Remove the existing ramp (Ramp J) bridge over Orthodox Street and Pearce Street
• Replace numerous retaining walls
• Construct approximately 1,000 feet of ground-mounted sound walls and 3,000 feet of structure-mounted sound walls along northbound I-95

Completed I-95 Lane Configuration

IN DESIGN

Section BR4

Construction Cost: TBD
General Contractor: TBD
Construction Start: 2026
Construction Completion: 2030

Section BR4 includes reconstruction of the southbound lanes of I-95 from Wheatsheaf Lane to just north of Margaret Street. Preliminary Engineering for this section was finished in December 2011. Final Design began in 2022, with construction anticipated to start in 2026.

I-95/BR4 Details:

• Widen and reconstruct southbound I-95 (expand from 3 to 4 travel lanes) from the northern limit of the structure over Wheatsheaf Lane to just north of Margaret Street
• Replace the I-95 southbound bridge over Frankford Creek
• Remove the I-95 southbound low-level structure from the Betsy Ross Interchange to Orthodox Street and replace with engineered fill
• Remove the southbound collector-distributor low-level structure from the Betsy Ross Bridge to Orthodox Street and replace with engineered fill
• Replace the I-95 southbound bridge over Orthodox Street and Pearce Street and the I-95 southbound bridge over Margaret Street
• Replace numerous retaining walls

Completed I-95 Lane Configuration

IN DESIGN

Section BR5

Construction Cost: TBD
General Contractor: TBD
Construction Start: 2027
Construction Completion: 2028

Section BR5 includes work related to the Conrail/NJ Transit (DelAir Branch) railroad line. The railroad bridge over I-95 will be rehabilitated. The railroad bridge over abandoned Thompson Street will be removed. The bridge over the northbound ramps to the Betsy Ross Bridge and Aramingo Avenue will be rehabilitated. Preliminary Engineering for this section finished in December 2011 and Final Design began in 2020, with construction anticipated to start in 2027.

I-95/BR5 Details:

• Rehabilitate the railroad bridge over I-95
• Remove the railroad bridge over Thompson Street
• Rehabilitate the railroad bridge over the northbound I-95 ramps (Ramps A, C) to the Betsy Ross Bridge and Aramingo Avenue