Portion of I-95 northbound in Philadelphia closing in early February for CAP project construction
PHILADELPHIA (CBS ) -- Additional road closures will go into effect early next month as PennDOT continues work on the I-95 CAP project near Penn's Landing.
Starting on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 6 a.m., a single-lane closure on I-95 northbound goes into effect until 6 p.m. between Exit 20 (Columbus Boulevard) to Exit 22 (Interstate 676).
Then starting at 6 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, northbound I-95 will be closed and detours will be in place between Columbus Boulevard and the northbound ramp from I-676.
During the construction period, the following ramps will also be closed:
- I-95 NB/I-676 WB on-ramp from Christopher Columbus Boulevard near Catherine Street
- I-95 NB on-ramp from Christopher Columbus Boulevard at Lombard Circle
- I-95 NB on-ramp from Front Street
- I-95 NB on-ramp from I-76 WB
Alternate Routes:
Access to I-95 North, but not I-676 West, will be available at the ramp from Summer Street at Columbus Boulevard just north of the Ben Franklin Bridge; or by continuing north on Columbus Boulevard to the Girard Avenue/Aramingo Interchange (Exit 23).
To reach I-676: Drivers will be directed to either continue north on Columbus Boulevard, turn left on Spring Garden Street, and left on 6th Street to access I-676 East.
To reach I-676: Drivers can take Spring Garden Street and turn left on 8th Street to access westbound I-676.
Motorists can also continue north on Columbus Boulevard to the Girard Avenue/Aramingo Interchange (Exit 23) and use I-95 South to access I-676 West.
Traffic heading north on I-95 from south of the Walt Whitman Bridge and those on westbound I-76 from New Jersey will be advised to use I-76 West and I-676 East to access I-95 North.
RELATED: Cap, park over I-95 will reconnect Delaware River waterfront to Old City
Electronic message boards on I-76, I-276, I-476 and other major roadways will encourage drivers to use alternate highways, and traffic remaining on I-95 will be detoured to Christopher Columbus Boulevard, according to PennDOT.
The $329 million I-95/CAP project will replace and expand the existing covered section of I-95 and improve connections between Center City and the Delaware River waterfront. The work will also add a tied arch bridge and a pedestrian-friendly park.
Construction on the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, which is expected to keep the bridge closed until 2027, began back in September. Earlier this month, eight SEPTA bus routes were rerouted to new start and end locations due to construction Market Street in Old City.
511PA is a free and always available tool travelers can use that provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.
For more information on the I-95 CAP closure detours, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has an interactive map on its website.
Headaches for commuters
Once the construction begins in February, it'll be a headache for commuters and businesses in the area of the CAP project.
"My customers take 95 but they'll still get here. If it affects me, it affects me, but I can't do anything about it," said Steven Davis, who owns Steve's Olde City Cleaners and Tailors.
While there is a Philadelphia 76ers game on the Saturday night of the closure, PennDOT says these dates have the least impact on traffic. Winter weather, though, could push the closure date back.
"We looked at a bunch of events with the city and the sports complex," Harold Windisch, the assistant District 6 executive for construction, said. "They're pretty much the driving factors."
Following the closure, PennDOT notes three more will happen in the same area over the next several months and occur on the weekends for demolition.
