Project Specifics

The projects that comprise I-95/CPR will

• Reconstruct 1.4 miles of I-95 in the vicinity of the Cottman Avenue Interchange
• Refurbish or reconstructt eight northbound and southbound bridges on I-95
• Add a new southbound on-ramp from State Road
  
• Tie-in a new ramp from Milnor Street to the northbound on-ramp from Princeton Avenue
• Eliminate the existing southbound on-ramp from Princeton Avenue
• Rebuild the existing ramps that remain
• Add a third lane to Route 73/Cottman Avenue and convert it to a two-way road between State Road and Torresdale Avenue
• Convert Princeton Avenue to a two-way road, and add various traffic calming features, between Torresdal Avenue and State Road
• Extend Princeton Avenue as eastbound-only between State Road and Milnor Street
• Add a southbound lane to State Road between Cottman and Princeton avenues
 

 

 2009 CP1 Construction  Impacts

 

 

 

Construction of Section CP1 will be staged without any anticipated road closures or  detours, but temporary short-term lane closures will be in place during off-peak hours on surface roads that feed the interchange. Below are the traffi impacts expected on specific roads. 

 

On Princeton Avenue – between Torresdale Avenue and State Road

 

• Periodic lane closures
• No parking in construction areas at times
• Limited pedestrian/sidewalk access at times 

On Cottman Avenue – between Torresdale Avenue and State Road 

• Periodic lane closures
• No parking in construction areas at times
• Limited pedestrian/sidewalk access at times   
  

On State Road – between Longshore Avenue and Cottman Avenue 

• Periodic lane closures
• No parking in construction areas at times
• Limited pedestrian/sidewalk access at times 

On New State Road – between Longshore Avenue and State Road 

• Periodic lane closures
• No parking in construction areas at times
• Limited pedestrian/sidewalk access at times 

 On Milnor Street 

• Periodic lane restrictions for construction of I-95 North on-ramp 

On Princeton Avenue southbound on-ramp 

• Shortened merge onto mainline expressway 
 

Improvements I-95/CP2 
The second and final phase of improvements to the Cottman Avenue-Princeton Avenue Interchange project will be done under Section  CP2. 

  I-95/CP2: This contract will 

• Widen 1.4 miles of I-95 to provide four lanes in each direction from the overpass at State Road to the Levick Street bridge. Wider shoulders also will be provided for improved safety.
• Widen and reconstruct eight bridges. .
• Construct a new southbound on-ramp from Cottman Avenue.
• Upgrade the remaining original off-ramps.
• Relocate  water and sewer mains under Wissinoming Street, Milnor Street and Bleigh Avenue.

PennDOT expects that there will be construction in the Cottman-Princeton area until 2012. The estimated total cost of all CPR projects is $150 million.

 

PROJECT BACKGROUND 
 During the early stages of project development, several Design Options were developed, modeled and evaluated. At the end of this process, the option that was determined to best meet the objectives of the project (the Preferred Alternative) was chosen for further development. 

Design Option 1 (Preferred Alternative) involves many improvements to the local street network in addition to eliminating the lane drops on I-95. Highlights include: 

• Two-way traffic on a widened Cottman Avenue (two lanes westbound and one lane eastbound) with increased clearance under the Amtrak bridge
• A new on-ramp to southbound I-95 from Cottman Avenue at Wissinoming Street
• A new northbound on-ramp from Milnor Street tying into the existing on-ramp
• Two-way traffic on Princeton Avenue with curb extensions to discourage speeding
• A Princeton Avenue pedestrian walkway from State Road to Milnor Street under I-95 to reconnect the community to the waterfront
• Closing the existing Princeton Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-95
• Widening State Road (two lanes southbound and one lane northbound)
• A new southbound on-ramp at State Road just south of Longshore Avenue
• Lengthening and widening the southbound off-ramp at Bleigh Avenue  

Design Option 1 does not result in any failing intersections by 2025.

Design Option 2 was an improvement scenario designed by the project team as a result of initial input from the local community. The main feature of this Design Option is a single-point urban interchange at Cottman Avenue and I-95, with a new on-ramp to southbound I-95 from Cottman Avenue at Wissinoming Street. It also would have provided direct access to and from I-95 from Milnor Street, and a new southbound off-ramp. Other highlights include: 

• Two-way traffic on a widened Cottman Avenue (two lanes westbound and one lane eastbound) with increased clearance under the Amtrak bridge
• Two-way traffic on Princeton Avenue with curb extensions to discourage speeding
• Extending Princeton Avenue to Milnor Street for northbound I-95 access
• Closing the existing Princeton Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-95
• Widening State Road (two lanes southbound and one lane northbound)
 

Design Option 2 results in four failing intersections by 2025.

Design Option 3 was the final design alternative considered by the project team for the Cottman/Princeton Interchange as a result of public input. The main feature of this design option is a split diamond interchange with Cottman Avenue (access to and from I-95 south) and Bleigh Avenue (access to and from I-95 north), including direct access to Milnor Street south. Other highlights include: 

• Two-way traffic on a widened Cottman Avenue (two lanes westbound and one lane eastbound) with increased clearance under the Amtrak bridge
• Two-way traffic on Princeton Avenue with curb extensions to discourage speeding
• Extending Princeton Avenue to Milnor Street for northbound I-95 access
• Closing the existing Princeton Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-95
• Widening State Road (two lanes southbound and one lane northbound)

Design Option 3 results in two failing intersections by 2025.