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Traffic Advisory - Planned Repairs to I-76 at University Avenue

Please see the following abbreviated press release from PennDOT regarding the rehabilitation of the I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) bridges over the  Schuylkill  River and  Grays Ferry Avenue .  This section of I-76 is situated between the east and west bound exits for  University Avenue .  Both of these exits, as well as the corresponding on-ramps, will remain open for the duration of this project.  According to PennDOT, this project will commence on Monday, March 10, 2008, and will conclude in October 2009.
 
While lane closures are only scheduled for overnight hours and weekends, work will continue during the day Monday through Friday with two available travel lanes in each direction.  These lanes will be realigned and reduced in width, creating traffic delays in and around the construction area.  PennDOT will be working with both Metro Traffic and Traffic.com to keep the public informed of any traffic congestion created by this project.
 
Staff should allow sufficient travel time when reporting to work to counter any delays that may be experienced.  In cases where alternative routes are available, it is recommended that they be utilized.  As always, use of public transportation systems is recommended wherever and whenever possible.
 
Staff coming from  New Jersey should consider use of the Betsy Ross or Ben Franklin Bridges as an alternative to the Walt Whitman or Commodore Barry Bridges.
 
Information, including construction updates and traffic cameras, will be available by going to www.dot.state.pa.us, click on the box for "PennDOT Near You," click on Region 6 on the state map and finally click on  Philadelphia  County .
 

 
INTERSTATE 76 //  SCHUYLKILL EXPRESSWAY
BRIDGE REHABILITATIONS AT
UNIVERSITY AVENUE & GRAYS FERRY AVENUE
City of  Philadelphia

WHAT:  PennDOT will embark on a 19-month project to rehabilitate the nine-span, steel-beam bridge carrying Interstate 76/Schuylkill Expressway over the Schuylkill River and CSX railroad tracks and the 16-span bridge over Grays Ferry Avenue and 34th Street in Philadelphia.  I-76 carries 129,000 vehicles a day in the area of the University Avenue Interchange.
SCHEDULE:  Construction is scheduled to start on March 10, 2008 and finish in October 2009.
BRIDGE DATA:  The bridges were built in the mid-1950s.  The I-76 Bridge over  Schuylkill  River is 1,750 feet long and the I-76 Bridge over  Grays Ferry Avenue is 1,630 feet long.   Both bridges are 64 feet wide.  The bridges carry two lanes of eastbound and westbound traffic.
TRAFFIC IMPACTS:  I-76 lane closures will occur during overnight hours on weeknights and weekends.  In addition, the contractor will restrict I-76 to one lane in one direction on six weekends in 2008 (westbound I-76) and six weekends in 2009 (eastbound I-76) for the placing of a modified concrete overlay on both bridges.  Aside from weeknights and 12 selected weekends, I-76 will have two travel lanes open in each direction weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
 
LANE CLOSURE HOURS: A lane closure in one or both directions on I-76 is allowed:

  • Sundays 10 p.m. to Monday 5 a.m.
  • Mondays 10 p.m. to Tuesday 5 a.m.
  • Tuesdays 10 p.m. to Wednesday 5 a.m.
  • Wednesdays 10 p.m. to Thursday 5 a.m.
  • Thursdays 10 p.m. to Friday 5 a.m.
  • Fridays 11 p.m. to Saturday 8 a.m.
  • Saturdays 11 p.m. to Sunday 8 a.m.

WEEKEND-LONG LANE CLOSURE: On six weekends in 2008 and 2009, I-76 will be reduced to one lane in one direction from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday.  This weekend-long lane restrictions will result in lengthy travel delays for motorists traveling on the Expressway.   In 2008, westbound I-76 will be reduced to one lane on six weekends between July and October.  In 2009, eastbound I-76 will be reduced
to one lane on six weekends in June and July.  This round-the-clock lane closure on the Expressway is required to remove one inch of the concrete riding surface and replace it with a new latex modified concrete surface.  The resurfacing must be done in stages to keep the bridges open to traffic. 
HOLIDAYS:  No lane closures will be allowed during the following holidays: New Years, Easter weekend; Memorial Day weekend; Independence Day Holiday; Labor Day weekend; Thanksgiving weekend; Christmas Holiday.
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE: PennDOT will provide a tow truck to assist stranded motorists and quickly remove disabled vehicles from the Expressway during the 12 weekends when traffic is restricted to one westbound lane in 2008 and one eastbound lane in 2009.
SPEED LIMIT: The I-76 construction zone will have an advisory speed limit posting of 40 mph.


Release Date: Tuesday, March 11th 2008