Roundabouts have been touted as a way to ease congestion and reduce accidents on the road, and now, Philly's going to put that to the test first-hand. The Streets Department comes bearing news: big changes are starting at the crossroads of 20th Street, Penrose Avenue, Packer Avenue, and Moyamensing Avenue. They're building a roundabout, and folks, starting this week, have witnessed the prep work kicking off. According to the city's announcement, this includes some island demolition, a bit of asphalt patching, and yes, the occasional temporary lane closure.
But drivers, take note, because for one weekend in April, the construction will peak in nuisance. Start planning your detours now because from April 26 through April 28, they're shutting down the intersection completely. Why the hiatus from sanity? To bring in barriers, barrels, signs — the whole shebang — to hammer out a temporary roundabout. "The existing traffic signal will be turned off and removed during this time period," the city's statement dishes out as an FYI. The weekend's intent is to pave the way, quite literally, for smoother traffic flow moving forward.
Don't worry, there will be detours. Clear signs will nudge motorists towards Pattison Avenue/Oregon Avenue/Broad Street to snake around the construction snake pit, and there will be warnings at each significant crossroads ahead of the shutdown alerting travelers about the weekend detour plans. On the flip side, pedestrians will get to keep their pathways clear, and SEPTA bus routes will be orchestrated, almost as if the intersection were a musical score, to keep flowing through.
As for the big rigs, they'll have a special detour in place while construction hums along. And speaking of hum, Moyamensing Avenue SB will soon have its own temporary rerouting. Construction is in the hands of JPC Inc. Contractors, the city has revealed, with a budget that rings in at $5.8 million — bankrolled by the Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) and State County Fee funds, you're welcome taxpayers. If all goes as planned, by winter 2024, drivers will be navigating the brand-new roundabout instead of playing dodge-'em with the endless sea of orange cones.
It's a lot to take in, but the Streets Department is hoping residents will bear with them. Construction can be a headache, but the promise of smoother rides ahead is perhaps a small comfort. Keep those detours in mind, and maybe, that roundabout will end up being worth the temporary chaos.
