Overview

The I-476/Blue Route Improvement Project

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has wrapped-up major construction the roadway portion of the final phase of its four-phase program to improve Interstate 476 in Montgomery and Delaware counties. Though original traffic patterns - three lanes in each direction - have been re-established, motorists are reminded that the Exit 16 through Exit 20 work zone will remain active well into 2012 and that off-peak lane closures are possibel in either direction as crews complete construction items on both the top-side and under side of the interstate.

Construction on the two multi-million dollar projects to rebuild the northern segment of the expressway -- from Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) to the Turnpike's Mid-County Interchange -- got underway in early 2009 with the start of the $47.4 million re-decking of the northbound and southbound bridges over the Schuylkill River (Phase 3). Work on the bridges finished on schedule in November 2010.

In early 2010, PennDOT, utilizing federal and state funds, began rebuilding 3.5 miles of I-476 (Phase 4) between Exit 20 and Exit 16. Reconstruction of the southbound side of I-476 finished in December 2010, and crews immediately began preparing the work zone traffic pattern for reconstruction of the northbound lanes in 2011. Major construction on the northbound side finished in late-October, 2011.
 

Details of Phase 3
In March 2009, PennDOT implemented its innovative express lane traffic pattern on northbound I-476 in Montgomery County when it began the first major stage of a $47.4 million project to repair and rehabilitate the 35-year-old twin bridges spanning the Schuylkill River in Plymouth Township and West Conshohocken Borough.

PennDOT rebuilt the southbound structure in 2010, finishing the bridge improvement project on schedule in November 2010. Go here for more Phase 3 information.


Express Lanes Explained
The express lane traffic pattern that was in during reconstruction allowed PennDOT to maintain three lanes of peak-hour traffic in each direction.

Under the express lane concept, capacity on the side of the interstate that was under construction was limited to two lanes. A third lane in that same direction was then shifted across the highway onto the opposite side that was not under construction. To fit that lane on the opposing side, three slightly narrowed lanes of primary traffic on that bridge were shifted to the far right. Construction barrier was used to separate three lanes of primary traffic from the opposing single lane. That single opposing lane was then shifted back to the proper side of the highway at the limit of the work zone.

Completed Phases 1 & 2
PennDOT completed its Phase 1 resurfacing project in 2005. Phase 1 covered the area from I-95 to Lawrence Road, along with a segment of I-95 in the area of the I-476 interchange in Delaware County. Phase 2 resurfacing finished in 2007, covering I-476 from Lawrence Road to just south of I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) in Delaware and Montgomery counties.

The first two resurfacing projects were preventive maintenance operations designed to preserve the highway and extend its useful life. In addition to milling the existing pavement and resurfacing I-476, PennDOT improved safety and updated roadway features such as guide rails signing, and lane markings.