Multi-Year I-95 Traffic Shift To Begin Next Week: What Philly Commuters Should Expect

PHILADELPHIA — Starting next week, a portion of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia will have a new traffic pattern for multiple years.

PennDOT is entering the third of four phases in a $311 million project to reconstruct and widen 1.5 miles of I-95 in both directions in Northeast Philly. The I-95/AFC project began in 2018 and is projected to last until 2036.

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This third phase, called AF3, is expected to finish in late 2031.

A new traffic pattern is expected to begin Saturday and last about two years. It will shift three northbound lanes to the median area during the reconstruction of I-95 North and its bridges between Tioga Street and Wheatsheaf Lane.

Four southbound lanes remain open during this phase.

Several closures and detours will be in place over the next week as PennDOT's contractor prepares for the next phase:

• Ramp closure from Monday, Oct. 5 through Thursday, Oct. 8, from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning: The ramp from Castor Avenue to I-95 North will be closed and detoured. Drivers on Castor Avenue will be directed north on Aramingo Avenue and left on Adams Avenue to access the I-95 North on-ramp at the Betsy Ross Bridge Interchange. Delaware Avenue drivers will be detoured east on Venango Street, right on Balfour Avenue, left on Castor Avenue, north on Aramingo Avenue and left on Adams Avenue to access the same ramp.
• I-95 lane closures Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. 9, from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning: There will be lane closures in both directions between the Betsy Ross Bridge and Allegheny Avenue interchanges.
• Venango Street closure from 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, to 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12: Venango Street will be closed between Richmond and Balfour streets for overhead bridge demolition. Drivers will be detoured to Richmond Street, Castor Avenue and Balfour Street.

Drivers should allow for extra time because backups and delays may occur in the work area, PennDOT says.

Visit 95revive.com for more info on the AFC project.