Vehicles Over 5 Tons Restricted on I-95 in Philadelphia During DNC

The Democratic National Convention is just around the corner, and as a security precaution, no commercial vehicles over five tons will be permitted to travel on Interstate 95 during that week.

The restriction will be in place from Saturday, July 23 at noon until midday Friday, July 29. It will apply to I-95 between Exit 13 (I-76 West) and Exit 22 (I-676), PennDOT said.

“The rerouting of commercial vehicles off I-95 is associated with the security for the Democratic National Convention,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said in a statement. “PennDOT and regional transportation partners will utilize a combination of electronic message boards and stationary signs to guide commercial truck drivers along alternate routes during this temporary restriction. We urge commercial drivers, if possible, to travel on interstate highways outside the Philadelphia region during the week of the convention to avoid being diverted off I-95."

Among the types of commercial vehicles to be restricted include delivery trucks, utility vehicles, parcel trucks, small dump trucks, buses, flatbed and stake trucks, refrigerated and box trucks, large delivery trucks, refuse trucks, cement mixers, buses, and all tractor trailer combinations including double trailers, according to a news release.

In addition, motor homes and recreational trailers operated for personal use and weighing more than five tons will also not be permitted in that area, PennDOT said.

Drivers of such vehicles may follow detours, which will be posted:

• From I-95 north: Route 291 (Penrose Avenue) east, to 26th Street, to Interstate 76 west, to Interstate 676 east
• From I-95 south: I-676 west, to I-76 east, to 26th Street, to Route 291(Penrose Avenue) west.

The northbound and southbound entrance ramps to I-95 between Exit 13 and Exit 22 in Philadelphia will also be closed to commercial vehicles over five tons.

Richards added that all interstate highways and expressways in the Philadelphia region will remain open to passenger vehicles throughout the convention.

Motorists should consider using public transportation to travel into the city during the convention, officials noted.

To assist those traveling to Philadelphia for the convention, PennDOT is launching a travelers’ website in July – www.511PA.com/DNC. The site will include real-time traffic information.