PHILADELPHIA, PA — A major safety overhaul is set to begin next week at some of South Philadelphia’s most heavily traveled intersections, bringing long-term lane restrictions and months of traffic impacts to a busy waterfront corridor.
PennDOT announced that construction will start Monday, January 5, on an $8.8 million project to improve safety and traffic flow at the intersections of Columbus Boulevard, Packer Avenue, and Delaware Avenue. The work will also include improvements at the at-grade railroad crossing serving the area.
Beginning January 5 and continuing through Tuesday, September 15, 24/7 lane closures will be in place at the Columbus Boulevard and Packer Avenue intersection and the Delaware Avenue and Packer Avenue intersection. PennDOT warned motorists to expect persistent backups and delays near the work zones throughout the construction period. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.
Under the contract, crews will widen and reconstruct the affected intersections, install new concrete sidewalks with detectable warning surfaces, and build new foundations for traffic signal poles and overhead signs. The project also calls for utility relocations, roadway reconstruction, trenching along South Christopher Columbus Boulevard and South Delaware Avenue, and a jack-and-bore operation beneath the railroad tracks.
PennDOT said the improvements are designed to enhance safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists while addressing long-standing operational challenges along the corridor.
Road-Con, Inc. of West Chester is serving as the general contractor. While the most disruptive lane closures are scheduled through mid-September, physical construction on the overall project is expected to continue into the fall of 2026.
With nearly nine months of round-the-clock lane restrictions planned in a high-traffic area near the sports complex and Delaware River waterfront, motorists are strongly urged to plan ahead. For real-time traffic conditions, lane closure updates, and alternative route information across Philadelphia and the surrounding region, readers are encouraged to visit the MyChesCo Traffic Center before heading out.
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