The Impact Of The Papal Visit On Phoenixville

Pope Francis may be focusing his visit on Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County when he arrives on September 26 and 27, but the weekend-long event will have traffic implications for the whole region.

Borough councilman Michael Kuznar released the following information earlier in the week:

1. Beginning Friday evening (9/25) I76 will be closed from Conshohocken to Phila, both directions thru Sunday.

2. Increased traffic and congestion will begin Thursday.

3. Upper Providence township (in Delaware County) is declaring a ‘State of Emergency’ from Wed 23rd-Tues the 29th.

4. Expect total gridlock Rt422 fromK&P to Pottstown. There will be port-a-potties, water stations and EMS at points along Rt422.

5.There is also an event at the Oaks Expo Center adding another 15,000 people to the road.

6. Cellphone coverage is expected to be intermittent.

Additional road closures:

I676 both directions from 10pm Friday to 12am Monday

- I76 eastbound from I476 to I95

- I76 westbound from I95 to US Rt1

- US Rt 1 both directions from Rt30 to Belmont Ave

- I95 will be open but some ramps will be closed

Editor’s note: This story previously stated that Upper Providence Township in Montgomery County has declared a state of emergency. That is an error. Upper Providence Township in Delaware County has declared a state of emergency. For a list of all southeastern Pennsylvania municipalities that have declared a state of emergency, please click here. Patch regrets the error.