Traffic Restrictions on I-95 in Bucks Start Monday

Motorists on Interstate 95 will encounter lane and ramp restrictions next week for construction in Philadelphia and Bucks County that is part of more than $251 million in improvements currently underway on two contracts to rebuild, widen and improve the deteriorated interstate and its bridges, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said last week. 

The northbound I-95 off-ramp at Cottman Avenue (Route 73) in Northeast Philadelphia will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 to 5 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 to allow crews to set beams for the new southbound bridge over the ramp. While the ramp is closed, workers will shift barriers and prepare to move traffic to the recently rebuilt side of the off-ramp once it reopens by 5 a.m. Saturday.

During the ramp closure, northbound traffic on I-95 headed for Cottman Avenue (Route 73) will be detoured north to the Academy Road Interchange (Exit 32), then right on Linden Avenue and right on State Road back to Cottman Avenue (Route 73). 

In addition to the ramp closure, I-95 travel restrictions next week also include:

•     On Monday through Friday (Dec. 16-20), alternating northbound or southbound lane closures will be in place periodically from 9 p m. to 5 a.m. on I-95 between the Route 1 exit in Middletown Township and Academy Road in Philadelphia for installation of ITS equipment.; 

• On Tuesday through Friday (Dec. 17-20), northbound I-95 will be reduced to two lanes periodically from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. north of the Route 132 (Street Road) exit in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, for the installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) equipment; and

• From 8 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 18) to 5 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 19), a moving traffic pattern will be in place on northbound I-95 to allow crews to re-paint the lane markings in the construction area between Levick and Rhawn streets. The line painting will be postponed until Thursday or Friday nights (Dec. 19-20) if precipitation or extremely cold temperatures cancel the operation.

On-going bridge construction will also restrict New State Road to a single lane at the I-95 overpass at the Cottman Avenue (Route 73) Interchange in Philadelphia on Monday through Friday (Dec. 16-20) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Flaggers will direct an alternating lane of northbound and southbound traffic through the work area

All scheduled activities are weather dependent.

PennDOT’s contractor, Walsh Construction Company II, LLC of Canonsburg, Pa., is reconstructing and widening I-95 between Bleigh Avenue (located just north of Cottman Avenue) and Levick Street (located north of Bridge Street) and rebuilding the interchange to improve travel and reduce congestion. The project is financed with 90 percent federal and 10 percent state funds.

The ITS work is being done under a $39 million contract to James J. Anderson Construction of Philadelphia to rebuild the Girard Avenue Interchange and adjoining sections of I-95.

For more information on the I-95/Cottman Avenue Interchange Improvement Project, visit www.95revive.com.