PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The ongoing work to build a cap over I-95 is about to put a long-term squeeze on drivers near Penn's Landing.
Starting Monday, PennDOT is taking southbound Columbus Boulevard from three lanes to two between Race and Market streets, and then down to only one lane between Market and Walnut. The lane closures will last until the middle of 2025.
"For the next year, traffic will basically get by in the left lane only," PennDOT spokesman Brad Rudolph told KYW Newsradio.
Rudolph says a sewer line is being relocated and Comcast is installing a conduit in that stretch of Columbus Boulevard.
"The existing sewer is in the center lane on southbound Columbus, so we've got to perform a trenching operation. And once the roadway's opened up, Comcast will come in along with us to kind of do the work simultaneously," Rudolph said.
"We basically need to take two lanes in a section to get equipment in and give them some mobility since you've got multiple contractors in there that need access."
The northbound lanes of Columbus Boulevard have been reduced from three lanes to two on weekdays for utility construction, but Rudolph says on some nights, northbound traffic will be reduced to a single lane as well.
Drivers are advised to find alternate routes to avoid backups on South Columbus Boulevard.
Rudolph says the $329 million project is on schedule to wrap up in 2028.