Heads up, I-95 North commuters: the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced essential bridge repairs set to roll out this Sunday evening in South Philadelphia. Those of y'all planning to hit this stretch of asphalt, take note – you're in for some slow-going, with lane closures guaranteed to test your patience and extend your travel times.
Specifically, we're looking at the right two lanes and shoulder of northbound I-95 between Washington Avenue and Christian Street getting shut down for a spot of maintenance work. The closures are set to begin on December 22, Sunday night, at 7:00 p.m. and are poised to stretch out until 5:00 a.m. the following Monday morning. PennDOT's looking to strengthen our usual paths, but to do so they must temporarily constrict them, and inevitably, motorists will have to allow extra time to safely navigate the predicament.
It's the usual drill: those driving through the work area during these hours should anticipate "significant backups and delays," as stated on the PennDOT website. And because fate isn't guaranteed, and the weather plays by its own rules, all these activities hinge on the cooperation of the skies above.
For drivers looking to cleverly outsmart traffic jams, PennDOT throws in a lifeline. With a smartphone in hand, one can swiftly check real-time traffic conditions through www.511PA.com or the corresponding app available for iPhone and Android devices. Drivers can also dial 5-1-1 or follow regional X alerts to stay informed. Information about other construction projects affecting state-owned highways in surrounding counties can be found on the aforementioned PennDOT site.
User-friendly and aimed to keep us moving, these digital tools provide warnings, weather forecasts, speed information, and visual surveillance via more than 1,000 traffic cameras. For updates that come to you, get yourself subscribed to PennDOT news and traffic alerts for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6. Also, the agency maintains an interactive rundown of projects at www.projects.penndot.gov to keep everyone in the loop.
