Philadelphia, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that bridge deck repair on two structures in the Grays Ferry neighborhood in Philadelphia will close a section of eastbound Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) over four weekends beginning Saturday, September 21.
The weekend closures will allow PennDOT's contractors to repair sections of deteriorated concrete deck and resurface the structure that carries I-76 East (Schuylkill Expressway) over the Schuylkill River and CSX rail tracks, and the adjacent land structure that carries I-76 East over Grays Ferry Avenue, Wharton Street and Reed Street.
During the four weekend closures, PennDOT's contractor will perform milling operations to remove all existing latex modified concrete from the bridge decks. Crews will then perform sounding operations to locate and repair deteriorated sections of concrete with a rapid set epoxy based concrete patching material. Once repairs are completed, a highly bonding tack coat will be applied to the roadway prior to paving. Final paving will consist of a dense graded bituminous material that will reduce surface cracking, rutting, and reduce infiltration of water and road salts, providing a water proofing sealer for the bridge decks.
The first weekend closure will occur from 9:00 PM Saturday, September 21, to 4:00 AM Monday, September 23, on eastbound I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) from just after the ramp to Grays Ferry Avenue/University Avenue (Exit 346B) to just before the 34th Street on-ramp. All ramps to-and-from I-76 East (Schuylkill Expressway) will remain open to traffic during the closure.
Weather permitting, the same section of I-76 East (Schuylkill Expressway) will be closed and detoured over the following three additional weekends:
- 9:00 PM Friday, September 27, to 4:00 AM Monday, September 30.
- 9:00 PM Friday, October 4, to 4:00 AM Monday, October 7.
- 9:00 PM Friday, October 11, to 6:00 AM Sunday, October 13.
During the closure of I-76 East (Schuylkill Expressway), the regional detour route will utilize I-676 East (Vine Street Expressway) to I-95 South; or I-476 South to I-95 North.
Local traffic will be directed to exit at Grays Ferry Avenue/University Avenue (Exit 346B) and use the University Avenue Bridge/34th Street to access the ramp to I-76 East (Schuylkill Expressway).
Electronic message boards on I-76 and other regional transportation arteries will be utilized to alert motorists about the weekend closures and provide specific alternate routes.
The weekend closures are being coordinated with the City of Philadelphia, the Sports Complex, SEPTA, and other stakeholders and transportation agencies across the region.
Motorists are advised to avoid the closure areas because significant backups will occur on I-76 East (Schuylkill Expressway) approaching the work area, and on surface streets in the vicinity of the work area and detour routes.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
For a complete list of construction projects impacting state-owned highways in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, visit the District 6 Traffic Bulletin.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District6.
Information about infrastructure in District 6, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D6Results. Find PennDOT's planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brad Rudolph, bradrudolph@pa.gov
# # #