State Issues Plan To Ease Traffic Between KOP And Philadelphia

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA — State officials announced a plan to reduce congestion and improve the quality of travel between the King of Prussia area and center city Philadelphia, particularly along the notorious Schuylkill Expressway.

The new plan would utilize comprehensive "smart corridors" technology to maximize traffic capacity on I-76, optimize traffic flow on connecting roads, and make alternative methods of travel like mass transit and cycling more appealing.

“My administration is not only focused on improving our roadways’ condition, but also the time it takes and the experience you have while traveling on them,” Gov. Wolf said in a statement announcing the plan Thursday. “A government that works is one that uses every available resource for maximum impact, which we’re putting into practice on this corridor.”

The first part of the new plan, announced at a press conference in King of Prussia Thursday, will use a Variable Speed Limit system to change speed limits based on traffic, weather conditions, construction, and other safety factors. The first phase will also implement Queue Warning Systems, which will send out warning messages to alert drivers of accidents and sudden slow-downs ahead. Construction on this $8.6 million first phase project will begin this month and be completed in the summer of 2019, officials said.

The next phase, which is still being designed, which expand public transit options along the Manayunk/Norristown regional rail line, transform shoulders on I-76 into an additional travel lane, and improve traffic signal systems on nearby roadways.

High-volume interchanges, like U.S. 422, 202, and 1 will see overhead signs to regulate or close lanes before merge areas, allowing expressway speed to be increased.

SEPTA and PennDOT plan to provide real-time transit information via signs on I-76, including information on parking and train departure times, to make rail a more attractive alternative.

Upgrades are also planned to the Schuylkill River Trail, including improved parking, access, and lighting.

Further details on these initiatives are expected in the coming months.

Image via Gov. Wolf's Office