After a year of detours and darkened display windows, the Market Street on-ramp to southbound I-95 in Old City is set to reopen Friday afternoon, restoring a direct route between the historic district and Penn’s Landing. Merchants say the move could quickly boost tour buses, shoppers, and neighborhood businesses that watched customers peel away during the shutdown.
Hiep Nguyen, owner of Philly’s Gourmet Steaks, told FOX 29, "It’s a blessing. We’re ramping up." The station reported the ramp, which has been closed since March 2025, typically carries about 6,500 vehicles per day, and Nguyen estimated his sales fell 15 to 20 percent while it was shut. Managers at nearby The Franklin Fountain said customers from Delaware County had been skipping Old City because of the detour.
Project Behind The Closure
The shutdown is part of PennDOT’s multi-year I-95 CAP project to replace and expand the covered section of I-95 at Penn’s Landing and reconnect the waterfront. According to PennDOT, the $329 million effort will create an 11.5-acre park and is expected to continue through roughly 2029 to 2030.
Crews have spent months installing a new stormwater drainage system, demolishing a support pier and reconstructing pavement on the Market Street ramp as part of preparations for the cap’s heavier loads. As FOX 29 reported, weather and complex pier work pushed the reopening past an initial November estimate.
Roads And Detours To Expect
Drivers should find Market Street access restored, but short-term lane shifts and overnight restrictions will remain as teams place beams and work on adjacent spans. The project’s travel advisories directed motorists to use southbound Columbus Boulevard and the Morris Street on-ramp during the closure, per 95Revive, which maintains current detour and travel-advisory information.
Why Old City Cares Now
Merchants say timing matters, as Philadelphia prepares for a packed 2026 season of major events. The Philadelphia Inquirer notes the city will host multiple FIFA World Cup matches and has raised questions about federal security funding, and Major League Baseball lists the 2026 All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park as another draw that could bring large crowds back to Old City.
