Crime & Safety
Papal Visit Could Be Hell On Earth For Traffic Around Bucks County
The Pope's visit to Philadelphia will bring an estimated 1.5 million visitors to the region. Bucks County will be impacted, officials say.
The Pope’s visit to Philadelphia will bring an estimated 1.5 million visitors and will radically change the traffic patterns and public transportation schedules throughout the region for two days later this month.
In addition to the increased traffic expected on major highways around Bucks County, localized traffic is expected around the SEPTA stations that will be service during the visit on Sept. 26 and 27.
In Bucks County, those stations include:
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- Warminster Line - Warminster Station
- West Trenton Line - Woodbourne Station
- Trenton Line - Levittown and Croydon/Cornwells Heights Stations
To prepare for the event, some Bucks County municipalities are considering road closures.
“It is very likely that a stretch of Woodbourne Road from the Oxford Valley Mall to Wood Lane will be closed during the weekend except for residents and businesses within the closed area. This will depend upon the number of train tickets sold. Due to very limited handicapped only parking at the train station that weekend, overflow parking for the train station will be at the Oxford Valley Mall,” Middletown Township announced on its website.
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Officials from Warminster, Bensalem and Bristol townships have had meetings with officials from Bucks County and SEPTA officials to prepare for the event, the Bucks County Courier Times reported.
Warminster officials said they are considering some road closures, although the final plan has not been announced.
Regionally, the following closures have been announced. (These roads will close at 10 p.m. Friday and open at 12 a.m. Monday.)
- I-676 in both directions from I-76 to I-95
- I-76 eastbound from I-476 to I-95
- I-76 westbound from I-95 to US Route 1
- US Route 1 in both directions from US Route 30 to Belmont Avenue (Pope Francis is staying overnight at Wynnewood’s at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary)
- I-95 will be open but certain ramps will be closed
RELATED: Pope’s U.S. Visit, 2015 Guide: Full Schedule, Transportation, Ticket Information
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