Major Construction Project Comes To I-95
By Tim Jimenez and Syma Chowdhry
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- PennDOT kicked off the second largest project in its history.
The project was scheduled to begin in the overnight hours Monday, however due the inclement weather and the possibility of rain, the operation has been rescheduled to Wednesday night.
It is a $211 million project to rebuild a mile and a half of I-95 between the Girard Avenue and Allegheny Avenue Interchanges.
PennDOT officials say this is part four of a six phase program to revive this part of I-95.
Currently, work is done on a half-mile of the Interstate, but that expands to two miles of work planned to get started at 10 o'clock Wednesday.
The goal, according to PennDOT officials, is four lanes of traffic in each direction and a fifth lane for travel between interchanges.
That and replacing some bridges, for example, to improve the overall health of 95.
Residents like Chris from Fishtown have been dealing with the construction for years — and for years to come.
He lives at Marlborough and Wildey; I-95 is basically his backyard.
"As with any project, it has its ups and it has its downs. I guess the biggest thing would be the dust that is created. I think they did their best to control the dust," he says.
Commuters aren't happy either.
Durrell Durham of University City said, "It's a nightmare, traffic is terrible as it is. It's only going to get worse."
Anthony Grasso of Northeast Philadelphia added, "Everywhere you go, there's something. So what's your plan? Patience, gotta have patience."
PennDOT officials say drivers should expect adjustments Wednesday night, with three lanes of traffic shifted to the right, north of Girard Avenue ramp. Drivers should expect overnight lane closures and slowdowns all this week.
The project is expected to take four years to complete.
For more on the construction project, click here or here, or call 511.
