PHILADELPHIA, PA — Yesterday, a significant milestone was marked in the progress of the I-95 permanent repair work. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll, alongside Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt and other officials, celebrated the completion of the outer lanes on the new bridge. An event was held to commemorate the traffic shift from the temporary roadway onto the newly completed outer lanes of the new permanent bridge on Interstate 95 in northeast Philadelphia. This traffic transition is occurring ahead of the expected timeline.
The need for these repairs arose after a fire on June 11 caused a section of the roadway to collapse. Governor Shapiro and Secretary Carroll spearheaded a coordinated response at the state, local, and federal level to reopen the roadway as quickly and safely as possible. Their efforts have consistently been ahead of schedule in restoring traffic flow on I-95, with a temporary six-lane roadway opening just 12 days after the initial incident.
Secretary Carroll expressed his gratitude for the tireless work of all involved. “Today serves as another example to all that Pennsylvania can do big things,” he said. “Thanks to the dedication of the workers and continued coordination between the Shapiro Administration, our federal partners, and the City of Philadelphia, traffic continues to flow freely on I-95 and we are one step closer to restoring I-95 to its full capacity.”
Motorists are advised to be aware of the following travel restrictions:
- On Wednesday, November 8, southbound I-95 will be reduced to two lanes from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM, then to one lane from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning through the Cottman Avenue Interchange.
These restrictions are necessary for crews to move and reset temporary construction barriers and repaint lane markings. This work will facilitate the shifting of three lanes of northbound vehicles on Monday night and three lanes of southbound vehicles on Wednesday night onto the outer sections of the new span.
Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt recognized the importance of this milestone. “The Federal Highway Administration is proud to join PennDOT and our state, local, and private sector partners in Pennsylvania today to celebrate this important milestone marking the completion of the first stage of permanent repairs to I-95,” he said.
Following these traffic shifts, the temporary roadway will be removed, paving the way for the construction of the permanent structure in its place and the opening of the Cottman Avenue off-ramp. The recycled glass aggregate used in the temporary roadway will be repurposed for other projects along the I-95 corridor.
The entire new structure, including the reconstruction of the lower portion of the Cottman Avenue off-ramp, is projected to be completed and the northbound interchange reopened in 2024.
Drivers can check current road conditions by visiting the MyChesCo Traffic Center. Stay updated on the latest news and information from MyChesCo with our free newsletter. Follow MyChesCo on Twitter at twitter.com/MyChesCo and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/MyChesCo.
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