FAQ
Q. What are the huge mounds that have been built at the I-476/I-76 Interchange and along the northbound lanes near Ridge Pike?
A. The mounds at the I-476/I-76 Interchange are a creative use of the excess material that was excavated from I-476 where it is being rebuilt between Exit 16 and Exit 20. (The grade of the interstate is being lowered during reconstruction to increase the vertical clearance beneath the overpass at Exit 18/Ridge Pike, creating the excess fill material.) Instead of paying to haul the excess to a landfill or other disposal site, PennDOT has directed the contractor to deposit the material at the interchange, where it has been graded, dressed and seeded to create new topography. Additional excavated material also is being used to create berms along the northbound side of I-476 in the vicinity of Exit 18.
Q. I notice that some sort of overhead sensors are currently being installed at intervals along Interstate 476. What are they and what are they for?
A. PennDOT is installing a number of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components over the travel lanes along I-476 in Delaware and Montgomery counties. Among them are sensors that measure speed and distance, collecting data from passing vehicles that is then translated into messages and alerts that are displayed on the large overhead signs that also are being installed under the ITS initiative. The data collected by those sensors also trigger alerts at PennDOT's Traffic Control Center (TCC) when traffic slows significantly because of an accident or other incident on the highway. Personnel at the TCC then will zoom in via one of the numerous traffic cams (more ITS components) to determine the cause of the slowing and dispatch appropriate response vehicles to the site.
Q. May drivers of trucks and other large vehicles use the southbound Express Lane that is in place on I-476 between Exit 20 and Exit 16?
A. As on all limited access highways in Pennsylvania that have three or more lanes in a single direction, vehicles or combination vehicles of more than 10,000 pounds are prohibited from using the far left of the three southbound lanes of I-476 in the work area. Though separate from the other two southbound lanes, the southbound Express Lane is considered the far left lane.
Q. Since the northbound on-ramp at the Route 3 Interchange becomes the third lane on I-476, will the ramp meter at tthat ramp be activated once the meters are turned on?
A. The ramp meters will be turned on at the two ramps leading to I-476 South, but the signal on the northbound on-ramp will not be turned on because, as the question indicates, that ramp forms the third northbound lane. The meter on that ramp will be activated only during emergency situations.
Q. Why is PennDOT reconstructing this section of I-476?
A. The section of I-476/Blue Route has been in heavy use for more than 25 years. The pavement and bridge decks have reached the end of their service life and are being replaced as part of PennDOT's capital improvement program before the deterioration reaches the point where safety is compromised and the potential for vehicle damage due to this deterioration.
Q. How will my commute on the Blue Route be affected by this project.
A. PennDOT is utilizing an innovative express lane traffic pattern to maintain three lanes of capacity in each direction during peak travel times. However, the presence of construction barrier, narrowed lane widths and construction personnel and equipment may contribute to the normal delays usually experienced during periods of heavy volume.
Q. Will there be lane closures during non-peak hours during this construction?
A. The contractor is permitted to close lanes during off-peak mid-day and nighttime hours and on weekends.