DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Drivers moving through one of Delaware County’s busiest highway junctions are being warned to brace for overnight disruptions next week as PennDOT pushes forward with a major effort to untangle traffic and improve safety near Interstate 476.
PennDOT announced that bridge repairs will take place Tuesday night, January 13, on eastbound Route 3, also known as West Chester Pike, at the Lawrence Road intersection in Marple and Haverford townships. The work is part of a $5.2 million federally funded project aimed at easing congestion and improving traffic flow through the I-476 interchange.
From 7:00 PM Tuesday until 5:00 AM Wednesday, crews will impose periodic lane closures at the Route 3 and Lawrence Road intersection. PennDOT warned that significant backups and delays are likely during the overnight operation. All work is weather dependent.
The bridge repairs are one piece of a larger redesign of the complex interchange. Under the project, the westbound Route 3 off-ramp to northbound I-476 will be separated from the traffic signal at South Lawrence Road and converted to a free-flowing lane, eliminating a major bottleneck. The northbound I-476 on-ramp will be restriped, while South Lawrence Road will keep its current dual left-turn lanes and right-turn-only lane.
Crews will also build a new channelized right-turn lane from South Lawrence Road to northbound I-476, install a new cantilevered overhead lane-designation sign along westbound Route 3, and evaluate and upgrade ADA curb ramps and pedestrian facilities to meet modern accessibility standards.
Road-Con, Inc. of West Chester is serving as the general contractor.
With overnight lane closures planned at a critical interchange that carries thousands of commuters daily, motorists are urged to plan ahead and remain alert. For real-time traffic conditions, lane restrictions, and delay alerts across Delaware County and the region, readers are strongly encouraged to visit the MyChesCo Traffic Center before heading out.
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