PennDOT will begin the first of three phases of the project to reconstruct I-95’s Cottman Avenue Interchange (I-95/CPR) in Spring 2009 with construction of a new southbound on-ramp from State Road and a new northbound on-ramp from Milnor Street. 

The Milnor Street ramp will allow northbound access from the river-side of the highway, reducing truck and other traffic in adjacent residential areas.

Once the new State Road on-ramp is finished, contractors will remove the existing southbound on-ramp from Princeton Avenue. With the ramp gone, work will start on converting Princeton Avenue into a two-way road east of Torresdale Avenue and installing traffic-calming features such as bicycle lanes, new sidewalks and curb bump-outs.

The improvements are designed to help return Princeton Avenue to a street that primarily serves the community rather than traffic heading for the interstate. The improvements on Princeton also will help to better connect the surrounding neighborhood and the riverfront, once the entire interchange project is completed.

Other changes that will be built under the initial Cottman Avenue contract, known as Section CP1, will help move traffic to and from the interstate by channeling traffic along streets that lead to the interchange.

Cottman Avenue will be converted to a two-way road – one lane eastbound, two lanes westbound – from Torresdale Avenue to State Road. Cottman Avenue also will be  re-designated as Route 73 east- and westbound. Clearance under the AMTRAK bridge, west of State Road also will be increased to 14’6” to accommodate commercial vehicles.

In addition, State Road will be widened to include an additional southbound lane between Princeton and Cottman avenues. On-street parking will be retained on the northbound side.

This first of three phases of the overall project to rebuild the interchange and 1.3 miles of I-95 north and south of the interchange is expected to finish in 2010.