GIR Project Overview

Reconstruct and improve three miles of I-95 between the I-676 and Allegheny Avenue interchanges, including the Girard Avenue Interchange.

Reconstruction of Interstate 95 at the Girard Avenue Interchange (I-95/GIR) encompasses the area from Allegheny Avenue south through the Interstate 676 Interchange at Race Street.

Four of the seven project sections of reconstruction at the Girard Avenue Interchange have been substantially completed (GR0, 1, 2, 3). Section GR4 is under construction through 2022. Sections GR5 and GR6 will go to construction separately following completion of GR4.

Construction began in 2009 with GR0 and temporary improvements to the southbound off-ramp at Aramingo Avenue. PennDOT has since: relocated and significantly improved a stretch of Richmond Street to make way for total reconstruction of the new northbound viaduct; demolished and rebuilt the northbound viaduct between Palmer and Ann streets; reconstructed the northbound at-grade pavement between Ann Street and the Allegheny Avenue off-ramp; and finished rebuilding and improving a 1,200-foot section of I-95 between Palmer Street and Frankford Avenue at the southern end of the interchange. These improvements were done under sections GR0, GR1, GR2, and GR3.

Current construction (GR4) is rebuilding southbound I-95 from Allegheny Avenue to Palmer Street, including reconstruction of the at-grade pavement, demolition and replacement of the southbound viaduct, construction of new southbound off- and on-ramps, and installation of community amenities.

Project sections GR5 and GR6 will rebuild northbound and southbound I-95 between Frankford Avenue and Race Street, near the approach to I-676. Completion of these sections will finish construction on the overall Girard Avenue Interchange project in 2029 or later.

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED

Section GR0

Construction Cost: $8.8 million
General Contractor: James J. Anderson Construction, Philadelphia PA
Construction Start: September 2009
Construction Completion: July 2010

Section GR0 included construction of a temporary southbound off-ramp and realignment of Aramingo Avenue at the interchange.

I-95/GR0 Details*:

Construct a temporary off-ramp adjacent to the existing southbound off-ramp at Girard Avenue to provide access to Delaware Avenue via southbound Aramingo Avenue
Reconstruct new lanes to carry northbound Aramingo Avenue on a new alignment between Delaware Avenue and York Street, including a spur that provides access to I-95 south
Complete drainage improvements, highway lighting and utility relocations

*These temporary improvements are being replaced with permanent improvements in Section GR4.

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED

Section GR1

Construction Cost: $91.3 million
General Contractor: James J. Anderson Construction, Philadelphia, PA
Construction Start: November 2011
Construction Completion: 2017

Section GR1 included the reconstruction of Richmond Street from Aramingo Avenue to Cumberland Street, realignment of Richmond Street from Cumberland Street to Ann Street, and construction of four new Conrail bridges.

I-95/GR1 Details:

Reconstruct and widen Richmond Street on its existing alignment between Aramingo Avenue and Cumberland Street
Reconstruct and widen Richmond Street on a new alignment shifted east between Cumberland and Ann streets
Improve Richmond Street intersections at Cumberland, Sergeant, Huntingdon, Somerset, Cambria, and Ann streets
Construct signalized intersections at Richmond Street and Lehigh Avenue and at Richmond Street and Girard Avenue
Replace two Conrail bridges over Richmond Street near Lehigh Avenue with four separate railroad structures, reconstructing Conrail tracks and sidings for the Port Richmond Yard
Reconstruct and rehabilitate the Girard Avenue bridge over the northbound Aramingo Avenue
Relocate utilities underground along Richmond Street and adjacent streets to the west
Reconstruct the SEPTA Route 15 trolley line along Girard Avenue and Richmond Street
Deploy Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) devices — including arterial dynamic message signs (ADMS), traffic cameras, travel-time sensors, etc. — along arterial routes adjacent to I-95 between the Broad Street and Betsy Ross Bridge interchanges to assist PennDOT and the City of Philadelphia during traffic and incident management operations.

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED

Section GR2

Construction Cost: $39.3 million
General Contractor: James J. Anderson Construction, Philadelphia, PA
Construction Start: October 2012
Construction Completion: 2016

Section GR2 included reconstruction and widening of 1,200 feet of I-95 from Palmer Street to Frankford Avenue, including new bridges over Columbia Avenue, Marlborough Street, and Shackamaxon Street.

I-95/GR2 Details:

Reconstruct and improve I-95 from south of Shackamaxon Street to north of Columbia Avenue to provide four through lanes in each direction and a fifth auxiliary lane for ramp traffic entering and exiting I-95 between interchanges at Girard Avenue and Interstate 676
Replace I-95 bridges over Shackamaxon and Marlborough streets and Columbia Avenue
Construct five retaining walls to support embankments along I-95
Install noise barrier walls on both sides of I-95 with clear acrylic panels at the top to preserve views of the river and views from surrounding neighborhoods
Relocate utilities underground along Marlborough Street
Deploy ITS devices along I-676 and I-95 to assist PennDOT and the City during traffic and incident management operations
Build sustainable enhancements adjacent to and beneath I-95, including repurposed salvage for public art, low-maintenance landscaping, urban stormwater management devices, light-emitting diode (LED) street and underpass lighting, and thematic form-liners for decorative treatment of bridge abutment walls

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED

Section GR3

Construction Cost: $211.7 million
General Contractor: James J. Anderson Construction, Philadelphia, PA
Construction Start: 2014
Construction Completion: 2018

I-95/GR3 Details:

Reconstruct and improve northbound I-95 from Palmer Street to north of Ann Street to provide four through lanes in each direction and a fifth auxiliary lane for ramp traffic entering and exiting I-95 between interchanges at Girard Avenue and Allegheny Avenue
Reconstruct and relocate northbound on-off ramps at Girard Avenue
Replace four continuous northbound bridges carrying I-95 over Palmer-to-Ann streets and two northbound ramp bridges
Construct a temporary detour road (Allen Street) to carry traffic detoured from the northbound on-ramp at Girard Avenue during construction of the new on-ramp
Reconstruct Delaware Avenue between Columbia Avenue and Dyott Street
Construct three retaining walls to support embankments along I-95
Complete construction of the northbound noise barrier wall, started in Section GR2, to just north of Columbia Avenue
Construct direct outfalls to the Delaware River to support PADEP (PA Department of Environmental Protection) and Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) initiatives to separate storm and sanitary runoffs
Temporarily realign the intersection at Delaware Avenue and Aramingo Avenue
Construct signalized intersection at Delaware Avenue and Aramingo Avenue
Relocate utilities underground along Delaware Avenue
Build sustainable enhancements adjacent to and beneath I-95, including low-maintenance landscaping, progressive stormwater management devices, public spaces, LED street and understructure lighting and thematic form-liners for decorative treatment of bridge abutment walls
Install ITS devices along I-95 and adjacent regional routes, including I-76 and U.S. 322, to assist PennDOT and the City of Philadelphia during traffic and incident management operations

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Section GR4

Construction Cost: $314.9 million
General Contractor: James J. Anderson Construction, Philadelphia, PA
Currently Under Construction
Construction Start: 2018
Construction Completion: 2022

I-95/GR4 Details:

Reconstruct and improve southbound I-95 from Palmer Street to north of Ann Street to provide four through lanes in each direction and a fifth auxiliary lane for ramp traffic entering and exiting I-95 between interchanges at Girard Avenue and Allegheny Avenue
Reconstruct southbound on-off ramps at Girard Avenue
Replace four continuous southbound bridges carrying I-95 over Palmer-to-Ann streets, two southbound ramp bridges, and southbound Aramingo Avenue over Girard Avenue ramps
Construct a temporary detour road to carry ramp traffic during construction
Relocate utilities underground along Aramingo Avenue
Construct three retaining walls to support embankments along I-95
Install noise barrier walls along southbound I-95 and Aramingo Avenue
Build sustainable enhancements adjacent to and beneath I-95, including low-maintenance landscaping, urban stormwater management devices, public spaces, LED street and understructure lighting, and thematic form liners for decorative treatment of bridge abutment walls
Install and upgrade Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) devices along I-95 and adjacent regional routes, including U.S. 1 and U.S. 322, to assist PennDOT and the City of Philadelphia with traffic and incident management operations
Complete remaining Richmond Street improvements, including street trees and painted bike lanes
Construct an off-street multi-use path between Lehigh and Aramingo avenues

IN DESIGN

Section GR5/GR6

Construction Cost: TBD
General Contractor: TBD
Construction Start: GR5 2026, GR6 2023
Construction Completion: GR5 2029, GR6 2026

I-95/GR5-GR6 Details:

Reconstruct and improve I-676/Vine Street ramp connections with I-95 northbound and southbound
Replace I-95 bridges over Race Street, Callowhill Street, Spring Garden Street, Fairmount Avenue, Brown Street, and Ellen Street-to-Frankford Avenue
Construct retaining walls to support embankments along I-95
Realign sections of Poplar Street, New Market Street, Front Street, and Laurel Street at I-95
Install noise barrier walls along northbound and southbound I-95
Build sustainable enhancements adjacent to and beneath I-95
Relocate utilities (TBD)
Install Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) devices