Lions And Tigers And… Traffic? Oh My!
By Jim Melwert
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It's as much a sign of spring as April showers and May flowers. It's zoo traffic, and this time of year, it causes quite a headache across the entire city.
It's a staple of KYW Newsradio traffic reports, especially this week, when kids are off from school, and on weekends, when the MLK Drive is closed.
It's a testament to the popularity of the Philadelphia Zoo, but it's also wildly frustrating for motorists trying to get across town, as cars often back up as far back the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Philadelphia Zoo VP Kenneth Woodson says they're working on projects he says will fix traffic patterns on 34th Street and Girard Avenue to keep traffic from backing up down the ramp to Girard from the Schuylkill Expressway, "Which will bring traffic off the exit quickly. It will clear it out; it will hold the traffic on northbound Girard Avenue to permit traffic that's travelling to the zoo."
He recommends drivers from the west get off on South or Market, and come up 33rd, and from the east, use Montgomery Drive.
As for improvements to the actual Girard exit, PennDOT says don't hold your breath as there are just too many other more pressing issues on the roads.
