PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Those who usually take the Walt Whitman Bridge in the South Philly area will have to watch out for heavy traffic starting Monday, due to lane and ramp closures affecting the approach to the bridge.
The Walt Whitman Bridge I-76 Corridor Rehabilitation Project is a multi-year project to rehabilitate the area between Broad Street and Passyunk Avenue approaching the bridge.
So beware if you're headed to any Phillies or 76ers home games. Delaware River Port Authority officials announced that its next phase begins Monday, though some ramp closures will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Only one lane in each direction will be open due to drainage improvements, overpass repairs and paving.
"The main work that we’re doing is replacing the top two inches of the deck on all the over passes of the roadways from Broad to Passyunk," said John Hanson, chief executive officer of the DRPA. "That means jacking it out, removing the concrete and pouring new concrete and replacing it."
Hanson said crews will work as fast as they can. But until that smooth surface, drivers will have to get used to one lane in each direction of the bridge.
Several ramps will be closed over the next few months, including the entrance ramp from Broad Street North to Interstate 76 West, the Exit 348 ramp from I-76 West to Penrose Avenue, and the entrance ramp from Penrose Avenue North to I-76 East.
On May 25, the entrance ramp from Passyunk Avenue to Interstate 76 west and exit ramp from Interstate 76 west to Passyunk Avenue will close.
Hanson stressed it's important that drivers pay close attention.
"There are going to be workers out there," he said. "They are going to be working and their safety, just like the safety of the drivers, the people crossing the bridge is of paramount importance to us and to everyone."
The first phase of the $70 million dollar project is expected to be completed at the end of August. The DRPA expects to complete the full project by 2023.
Hanson said this will be the DRPA's last road project for a while.
"Once we’re done, it’ll be another 30 years before this work needs to be redone," he said. "This is the original concrete work, drainage and geometry from the '50s, and so this will not have to be redone again for a very long time."