Construction Update: June 29, 2010

Utility work continues on several surface roads and ramp construction is underway at two locations as the first stage of the Interstate 95/Cottman Avenue Interchange improvement project in Northeast Philadelphia heads into the busy days of summer. More

 

Westbound Cottman Avenue to be Closed and Detoured for Utility Construction

June 16, 2010 -- Westbound Cottman Avenue will be closed and detoured between State Road and Tulip Street in northeast Philadelphia starting Monday, June 21 for the installation of a new underground sewer main, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said today. Westbound Cottman Avenue is scheduled to reopen in early September. Download a map of the Cottman Avenue Detour route.

During the operation to install a new seven-foot wide, 400-foot long sewer main 15 feet under Cottman Avenue, westbound Cottman Avenue through traffic will be detoured over State Road, Rhawn Street and Torresdale Avenue. Motorists are advised to allow additional time for travel in the construction area.

This operation is part of PennDOT's $31.9 million project to build two new ramps at the Interstate 95/Cottman Avenue Interchange (a new southbound on-ramp from State Road near Longshore Avenue and a new northbound on-ramp from Milnor Street) and to improve surface streets that carry traffic to, from and around the busy interstate. This project is the first of two contracts for the $230 million project to rebuild and improve I-95 at the interchange.

Tony DePaul & Son of Blue Bell, Montgomery County, is the general contractor on the $31,953,398 project that is financed with 90 percent federal and 10 percent state funds. Construction on this first stage is expected to be completed in spring 2011.

 

CPR Construction Update: May 28, 2010 

TWO NEW RAMPS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ALONG WITH UTILITY WORK ON STATE ROAD, PRINCETON AVENUE 

Construction crews are active at a number of locations within the Interstate 95/Cottman Avenue Interchange (I-95/CP1) work area, relocating and installing underground utilities, constructing curbs and curb ramps, and building retaining walls for two new ramps. Go here for more.

 

STATE ROAD REDUCED TO ONE LANE EACH DIRECTION NEAR COTTMAN AVENUE

April 9, 2010 -- Motorists using State Road in the vicinity of the I-95 Cottman Avenue Interchange in Northeast Philadelphia will encounter backed-up traffic and delays for several months beginning Wednesday, April 14, when the road is reduced to one lane in each direction for construction activities between Cottman Avenue and Princeton Avenues. Go here for more.

 

11.30.09 Open House Displays

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) hosted an Open House public meeting on Monday, November 30 to update citizens on the project to improve the Interstate 95/Cottman-Princeton Interchange in Philadelphia. Download a copy of the meeting Display Boards here.

 

Cottman Avenue Interchange Lane Restrictions

• Cottman Avenue one lane between State Road and Torresdale Avenue.
• Restrictions on Cottman Avenue may cause backups approaching State Road from the northbound off-ramp from I-95.
• Restrictions on State Road will cause backups approaching Cottman Avenue. 
• Daytime lane restrictions on Princeton Avenue between Torresdale Avenue and State Road
• State Road closed to southbound traffic from New State Road to Longshore Avenue

 

Fall '09 Cottman Avenue Interchange Newsletter Available 

Go here to download a copy of a newsletter summarizing current construction activities on the I-95/Cottman Avenue Interchange (I-95/CPR) project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breaking Ground on May 14, 2009 for the first phase of the project to reconstruct the I-95 Cottman Avenue Interchange are: (l to r) Julie Slavet, Aide to Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz; Peter Naccarato, local businessman; Lester Taoso, PennDOT District Executive; State Senator Michael Stack; State Representative Michael McGeehan; and former Congressman Robert Borski. Under the $31.9 million project, PennDOT will build two new ramps and make improvements to Cottman Avenue, State Road, Princeton Avenue and other surface streets in the interchange area.  The second and final stage of the project, expected to go to construction in  2011, will rebuild the remaining ramps along with 1.4 miles of I-95 between Levick Street and Bleigh Aven

 

Construction Starts in 2009
Ramps, Surface Roads in Tacony Focus of First Stage Construction at Cottman Avenue Interchange    

PennDOT will begin the first (CP1) of two phases (CP2) of the project to reconstruct I-95’s Cottman Avenue Interchange (I-95/CPR) by mid-May 2009.  Initially, CP1 will  

• Construction of a new southbound on-ramp from State Road at Longshore Street.
• Construct a new northbound on-ramp from Milnor Street that will allow northbound access from the river-side of the highway, reducing commercial and other traffic in adjacent residential areas.
 

Princeton Avenue improvements will include installation of traffic-calming features such as bicycle lanes, new sidewalks and curb bump outs.

Other changes that will be built under CP1 will help move traffic to and from the interstate by channeling traffic along streets that lead to the interchange. Included are improvements to Cottman Avenue, which will be 

• Converted to a two-way road – one lane eastbound, two lanes westbound – from Torresdale Avenue to State Road.
• Re-designated as Route 73 east- and westbound.
• Lowered to increase clearance under the AMTRAK bridge west of State Road to 14’6” to accommodate most commercial vehicles.
  
 

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

I-95 Section CPR (I-95 CPR)
Cottman Avenue - Princeton Avenue Interchange
 
I-95 CPR will reconstruct and improve the present interchange at Cottman Avenue and 1.4 miles of the adjacent interstate.   

Status   

The I-95 Cottman Avenue Interchange project will be completed in two separate phases: CP1 and CP2. I-95 CP1 is under construction. I-95 CP2 remains in the Final Design stage of project development. 
 

CP1 Details

 Under CP1, PennDOT will build a new southbound on ramp from State Road and a new northbound on-ramp from Milnor Street.  

 

Once the new State Road ramp is in place, the existing southbound ramp from Princeton Avenue will be removed and work will begin to convert Princeton Avenue into a two way road east of Torresdale Avenue. Traffic calming features, such as bicycle lanes and sidewalk bump-outs, will be added. 

 

Princeton Avenue also will be extended as an eastbound only road from State Road to Milnor Street.

 

CP1 also will widen and reconstruct Cottman Avenue to include one lane eastbound and two lanes westbound from State Road to Torresdale Avenue. Vertical clearance under the AMTRAK overpass also will be increased to 14' 6".

 

And State Road will also be widened to include an additional southbound lane between Cottman and Princeton avenues.