Infrastructure Upgrade at I-95 Bridge Street Interchange

Categories: National Construction NewsNews

Ongoing construction efforts at the I-95 Bridge Street Interchange aimed at improving traffic flow and safety.

News Summary

Construction is ongoing at the I-95 Bridge Street Interchange in Northeast Philadelphia as part of a $268 million infrastructure project. This initiative aims to improve traffic flow and safety along a crucial interstate segment. Crews are currently working on deck construction and installing new retaining walls, with plans for a new off-ramp and stormwater drainage. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2028, while maintaining operational travel lanes for commuters.

Northeast Philadelphia

Construction is currently underway as part of a significant infrastructure upgrade at the Interstate 95 Bridge Street Interchange in Northeast Philadelphia. This project is a major component of PennDOT’s $268 million I-95/BS2 initiative, aimed at enhancing the flow of traffic and improving safety along a busy segment of this vital interstate corridor.

As of now, crews are actively engaged in deck construction on the new southbound viaduct at the interchange. Workers are placing reinforcing steel (rebar) and preparing the area for future paving activities at the northern end of the new viaduct. The design of the new structure includes passage over Bridge, Tacony, and several other surface streets, subsequently connecting with new at-grade paving.

Progress on the project includes the completion of two of the four new retaining walls designed to support embankments. These walls are essential for carrying a continuous fourth lane and establishing a new off-ramp at James Street. The remaining two walls are currently under construction along the southbound side of the interchange. Additionally, a new stormwater drainage system is being installed to accommodate the upcoming pavement and off-ramp construction.

The new off-ramp will replace the now-closed southbound ramp to James Street and will provide access to a new signalized interchange on Tacony Street. In the meantime, traffic exiting southbound I-95 at Bridge Street is being detoured to Aramingo Avenue, facilitating smoother traffic flow during this phase of construction.

Other significant infrastructural improvements include the installation of a new water main beneath Tacony Street, along with ongoing construction related to sewer lines and utility work, coordinated by subcontractors such as PECO. In addition, plans are also in place for a new on-ramp to I-95 north at Tacony Street, which is part of further enhancements to the Delaware Avenue Extension. Construction for the Delaware Avenue Extension is expected to begin this summer.

This undertaking fits within the larger framework of the I-95 reconstruction, with Section BS2 being the second of five contracts. Section BS1—completed in early 2023—focused on rebuilding and widening I-95 from Levick to Carver streets. The entire Section BS2 project is projected to reach completion by 2028.

Throughout the construction, PennDOT has indicated that three travel lanes in each direction on I-95 will remain operational during peak travel hours, with potential lane closures occurring during off-peak times. This approach aims to minimize disruptions to commuters and ensure that traffic can continue flowing while crucial infrastructure upgrades are made.

James J. Anderson Construction of Philadelphia serves as the general contractor for the ongoing work in Section BS2, playing a pivotal role in these extensive renovations to the region’s transportation network.

As construction progresses, updates will be provided to the public about changes to traffic patterns and any upcoming work that may affect local commuters. This infrastructure improvement project marks a significant step toward enhancing the capacity and safety of the I-95 corridor, an essential route for both local and through traffic.