Lane Closures on I-95 to Impact Philadelphia Traffic

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that overnight lane closures will take place from Monday, July 28, through Friday, Aug. 1, on northbound I-95 in South Philadelphia. The lane closures are going into effect to accommodate a $37.4 million federally funded project to address 27 bridges along the portion of I-95 that straddles the southern Philadelphia region.

During the week of July 28-Aug. 1, a single lane will be closed each night from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. between Packer Avenue and Christian Street. The lane closure will allow crews to install temporary traffic controls as they prepare for long-term bridge repair tasks. PennDOT is advising motorists to expect delays and allow extra travel time during these hours. All work is weather dependent.

According to a MyChesCo report, the project includes significant repairs to deteriorating bridge elements. PennDOT crews will focus on cracked welds, damaged bridge decks, prestressed concrete beams, and structural steel concerns on the bridges' superstructures. Additional work will include replacing bridge expansion joints, sealing deck joints, and upgrading guiderails and steel sign supports.

Work on the bridges' substructures will consist of cleaning bridge seats, removing accumulated debris on the bridges, replacing damaged concrete, resetting weight bearings, and restoring weight-bearing pedestals.

Finally, crews will clean and repair 11 overhead steel sign supports and upgrade existing lights on the bridges to energy-efficient LED lighting. 

IEW Construction Group, Inc. of Hamilton, New Jersey, is leading the project.