DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Drivers on Interstate 476 should prepare for daytime disruptions next week as PennDOT advances a high-tech overhaul aimed at reducing congestion and improving safety along one of the region’s most notorious corridors.
PennDOT announced that fiber repair work will take place on northbound I-476 from Monday, January 5, through Thursday, January 8, as part of a $10.4 million project installing Variable Speed Limit and Queue Warning systems across roughly 14.5 miles of the highway in Delaware and Montgomery counties.
From 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM each day, a lane closure will be in effect on northbound I-476 between the Media/Swarthmore Interchange at Exit 3 and the Plush Mill Road overpass in Nether Providence and Springfield townships. PennDOT warned that significant backups and delays are expected during the work period and urged motorists to allow extra travel time. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.
The fiber repair is a critical step in a broader Intelligent Transportation System buildout that includes new conduits, queue detectors, variable speed limit signage, dynamic message boards, and supporting technology. Once operational, the system will be managed from PennDOT’s new Regional Transportation Management Center.
Variable Speed Limit systems will allow posted speed limits to change in real time based on traffic flow, roadway conditions, and weather, giving drivers earlier warnings and helping smooth traffic during congestion. Queue Warning systems will display electronic alerts when slowdowns are detected ahead, a measure designed to reduce sudden braking and rear-end crashes.
PennDOT said the new systems will work in coordination with existing traffic management technology already deployed along I-476 in both counties.
Kuharchik Construction Inc. of Exeter is the general contractor on the project, which is funded entirely with federal dollars.
With lane restrictions planned on a heavily traveled stretch of the Blue Route, motorists are strongly encouraged to plan ahead. For real-time traffic conditions, lane closure updates, and delay alerts across Delaware County and the surrounding region, readers are urged to visit the MyChesCo Traffic Center before heading out.
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