PennDOT to Host I-95 Girard Avenue Interchange Design Charrettes

July 14, 2010 - The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is hosting a series of design workshops, or charrettes, beginning in late July to identify waterfront planning, recreational and environmental improvements that can be in integrated into the design of the first two phases of the project to improve the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange. More...

 

Possible Street Level Improvements

As engineers and planners work toward providing sustainable improvements to the surface roads and underside of I-95 in the vicinity of the Girard Avenue Interchange, here are some ideas for possible improvements that could be made to Delaware Avenue and Richmond Street within the project area.

 

I-95/GIR Construction Update: July 6, 2010

First Phase of Girard Avenue Interchange Reconstruction Completed

The first (I-95/GR0) of six phases (GR1-GR5) of reconstruction of the Interstate 95/Girard Avenue Interchange has been completed. The temporary southbound off-ramp constructed adjacent to the existing off-ramp is in service, and the northbound Aramingo Avenue connector constructed through the interchange area also is carrying traffic between Delaware Avenue and Aramingo Avenue. More...

 

PennDOT Opens Temporary Off-Ramp at Girard Avenue
New ramp part of $8.8 million project to improve access from I-95 South to Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia waterfront

June 29, 2010 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation today announced that it has opened a new temporary off-ramp from Interstate 95 South at the Girard Avenue Interchange that will improve access between the interstate and the waterfront area along Delaware Avenue north of Center City Philadelphia. More.

 

Route 15 Trolley to be Rerouted During GIR Construction

June 16, 2010 - SEPTA will reroute the Route 15 trolley -- which runs along Girard Avenue and Richmond Street -- during construction at the Girard Avenue Interchange for approximetely two years beginning in Spring 2011.

Route 15 trolley service will be rerouted from Girard along Frankford Avenue to Delaware Avenue, where a turnaround will be built across the street from the new Sugar House casino. Busses will be used in place of trolleys Route 15 travel from Girard and Front Street to Richmond and Westmoreland Street.

 

GIR Slide Shows

Download a slide show overview of the project to rebuild the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange presented to City Officials and Community Leaders in May.

Download a slide show overview of the project to rebuild the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange presented to the Fishtown Neighbors Association in March and May. 

 

GIRARD AVENUE TO SEE SUMMER FACELIFT

By Christopher Wink

This summer looks to be very kind to Girard Avenue through Fishtown.

Updates on two major projects aimed at improving the beauty and functionality of the corridor were discussed at a recent Fishtown Neighbors Association meeting. Read the March 31 Spirit Community Newspaper article here.

 

OTHER UTILITY WORK PLANNED AT I-95/GIRARD AVENUE INTERCHANGE AREA

January 8, 2010 - As PennDOT works to improve the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange (GIR) in 2009, 2010 and 2011, motorists and residents may encounter and be impacted by utility construction on Delaware Avenue and other surface roads in the project area. Most of these activities are not part of PennDOT’s GIR project. Read more here.

 

Surveying Activities at Girard Interchange

Feb. 8, 2009 - Surveying activities will be underway in several areas near the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange in Philadelphia for approximately two weeks beginning on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. Read more here.

 

GIRARD AVENUE  INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BEGINS
 
Sept. 25, 2009 - The Girard Avenue ramp to northbound Interstate 95 and northbound Aramingo Avenue in Philadelphia will close Monday (Sept. 28) for the start of an $8.8 million project to improve travel through the I-95/Girard Avenue Interchange, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today....more
 

 

 

 

 

Click here for the Dec. 22, 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer articles about archaeological preservation underwy on the Aramingo Canal, part of the design of the I-95 Girard Avenue Interchange.

 Go here to download a detailed graphic of the GIR project and how it relates to city streets, buildings, etc. 
 

Temporary off-ramp and road to be built in first stage of multi-stage project
 
PennDOT will start the first (GR0) of six (GR1-GR5) projects to reconstruct the Girard Avenue Interchange in 2009. GR0 construction will 

• Build a temporary southbound off-ramp
• Realign northbound Aramingo Avenue between Deleward Avenue and York Streets.
 

GR0 improvements will help move traffic through the interchange area during latter phases of reconstruction at the interchange and on the I-95 main line.

The temporary ramp will be built as an offshoot of the existing off-ramp from I-95 south at Girard Avenue. It will connect traffic from the interstate with southbound Aramingo Avenue, allowing it to move directly to the waterfront along Delaware Avenue. Aramingo Avenue will be made one-way southbound at its intersection with the temporary ramp. A temporary signal will be installed to help control traffic movement.
 
The changes on Aramingo Avenue will split northbound traffic at the Delaware Avenue intersection and merge with the existing connector ramp that runs from Girard Avenue east to Aramingo Avenue north near Norris Street. A short spur will allow traffic to turn left at a temporary signal onto Aramingo Avenue south and continue on to Delaware Avenue or the existing ramp to I-95 South.
 
  

PROJECT OVERVIEW

I-95 Section GIR (I-95/GIR)
Allegheny Avenue through Girard Avenue Interchange

Under this project, PennDOT will reconstruct and improve the interchange at Girard Avenue and a short section of the adjoining interstate. The improvements will help move traffic through the interchange area until the latter phases of reconstruction, when new, direct access to the waterfront will be built. The temporary southbound off-ramp will improve access to the waterfront, which should reduce cut-through traffic on local streets.

Status
The remaining sections of I-95/GIR are currently in various stages of the Final Design stage of project development. They are being prepared for construction as six separate phases: GR0 (currently under construction), GR1, GR2, GR3, GR4, GR5 (Click on Engineering above for information about GR1-5). Construction plans and specifications are being drawn up, numerous permits are being secured and construction funding is being arranged.

Under GR0, PennDOT  will build 

• A temporary ramp adjacent to the existing off-ramp from I-95 south at Girard Avenue. This ramp will connect traffic from the interstate with southbound Aramingo Avenue. It also will allow traffic from the interstate to move directly to the waterfront along Delaware Avenue.
• New lanes that will carry northbound Aramingo Avenue on a new alignment (see graphic). The new lanes of Aramingo Avenue will move traffic between Delaware Avenue and York Street. It will split northbound traffic at the Delaware Avenue intersection, near the on-ramp to I-95 North, and merge with the existing ramp that runs from Girard Avenue east to Aramingo Avenue north near Norris Street. A short spur will allow traffic to turn left at a temporary signal onto Aramingo Avenue south and continue on to Delaware Avenue or the existing ramp to I-95 South.
• A drainage system will be built to control runoff.
• Various utility relocations in the GR0 project area.
 

GR0 is projected to cost approximately $10 million and be completed in mid-2010.