I-76 East Closing Fully For 4 Weekends Due To Bridge Work: PennDOT

PHILADELPHIA — A section of eastbound Interstate 76 in Philadelphia will close completely over four weekends due to deck repair on two structures, PennDOT said.

These closures will first be in place Saturday in the Grays Gerry neighborhood of Philadelphia.

The first weekend closure will be in place from 9 p.m. Saturday to 4 a.m. Monday on eastbound I-76 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 will remain open to traffic during the closure.

Weather permitting, the same section of I-76 East will be closed and detoured over the following three additional weekends:

• 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, to 4 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30.
• 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, to 4 a.m. Monday, Oct. 7.
• 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, to 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 13.

During the closure of I-76 East, the regional detour route will utilize I-676 East 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.

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.

These closures will allow PennDOT’s contractors to repair sections of deteriorated concrete deck and resurface the structure that carries I-76 East 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.

Drivers are advised to avoid the closure areas because significant backups will occur on I-76 east approaching the work area, and on surface streets in the vicinity of the work area and detour routes.