Drivers, get ready to pump the brakes and add some time to your commute if you're hitting I-95 in Northeast Philly. PennDOT's got some night paving on the calendar, and it's going to shake things up on the Cottman Avenue Interchange. Come Tuesday, April 16, lanes are gonna start closing down at 7 PM and won't be wide open again until the early hours of 5 AM the next morning. You heard it here first – plan or prepare to park it on the parkway.
Here's the nitty-gritty if you're looking to avoid the vehicular logjam: The southbound side of I-95's going to squeeze into fewer lanes between Academy Road, and the Betsy Ross Bridge – that left lane's kissing the pavement goodbye at 7 PM sharp. And just when you thought it couldn't get cozier, they're doubling down with a two-lane closure starting at 11 PM. The same drill goes for the northbound lanes – that left lane between Betsy Ross and Academy is hitting the hay early too.
PennDOT urges travelers to allow for some extra travel time when passing through the construction zone – you're going to hit some backups and, let's be real, probably some choice words, too, from your fellow road comrades. And while we're dropping truth bombs, remember that Mother Nature has the final say – if she's in a mood, schedules could change.
The lane closures aren't just for kicks, though. They're part of the grander scheme to get the new southbound bridge decked out in concrete – it's all about safety, folks. PennDOT's contractor needs the road space to work their magic, and if you were wondering, the outside sections of the bridge have already been a done deal since last November. Traffic's been doing the shuffle onto those new outer sections while the construction conga continues in the middle into mid-2024.
So mark your calendars and maybe find a good podcast or two – it's going to be one of those nights. For all the details straight from the horse's mouth, take a peek at PennDOT's announcement on their website and steer clear of those traffic blues.
