Heads up to all you night owls and shift workers who make your way through the Northeast Philly stretches of I-95—PennDOT has just rolled out its plan to give some much-needed TLC to the aging thoroughfare.
Starting next week, drivers should plan to add some extra minutes to their commutes, as the state agency is going to nightly introduce lane closures on one of Philadelphia's busiest highways. Motorists will need to prepare to suddenly merge down to fewer lanes starting at 9:00 PM, with these restrictions intensifying at the stroke of midnight into two-lane closures lasting until the pre-dawn hours of 5:00 AM. According to a PennDOT release, these are measures necessary to safely stripe lines and install reflectors without the bustle of peak daytime traffic.
The construction efforts are part of a larger $37.4 million project aimed at repairing 27 bridges that provide critical connectivity within the city. These structures, some visibly worn by the grind of time and elements, are in dire need of attention to preserve their operational integrity.
PennDOT's contract work will encompass a plethora of structural upgrades including, but not limited to, mending steel and concrete components, fixing cracked welds, replacing bridge expansion joints, and restoration of bridge seats. All these efforts are in pursuit of ensuring that when you drive on these bridges, you're driving on something solid, steadfast, and—most importantly—safe.
Improving nighttime visibility, PennDOT is also set to upgrade existing roadway lighting with LED luminaires, while giving a fresh coat of paint to 11 overhead sign structures. Though signaling a brighter and safer path ahead, drivers should anticipate delays and are advised to allow for more travel time when passing through these zones.
So, mark your calendars for those single-lane closures on Monday, July 29, and Wednesday, July 31, through Friday, August 2, on northbound I-95 between Bleigh Avenue and Ashburner Street. Then, get ready to take it slow on the southbound side between Ashburner Street and Bleigh Avenue, on Tuesday, July 30, and repeat the slowdown on Friday, August 2.
