Phase 3 Schuylkill River Bridge

Phase 3 will involve the complete rehabilitation of the Schuylkill River Bridge which was built in 1974. The Schuylkill River Bridge is a dual bridge carrying traffic northbound and another southbound. Under Phase 3 work the bridge deck will be removed and the deck will be replaced. In addition, the steel under the deck will be strengthened, cleaned and painted. All of this rehabilitation work to the bridge will extend durability and reduce future maintenance. Early action steel repairs to the bridge were completed in 2007 and the entire rehabilitation will begin early 2009 and be completed in late 2010.

Click here for a map of the Phase 3 project area at the Schuylkill River Bridge.

Phase 3 Schuylkill River Bridge also includes the installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) on I-476 between I-95 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276) in Delaware and Montgomery counties. ITS covers a range of information and electronics technologies which help monitor and manage traffic flow, reduce congestion, and provide alternate routes to travelers. PennDOT will install closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) and ramp metering upgrades The total construction cost for rehabilitating the bridge is $47.3 million.

The Phase 3 project will also upgrade the traffic signal at the I-476 off ramp to Matsonford Road at PA Route 23 in West Conshohocken Borough to improve the flow of traffic.

Traffic Impacts

The maintenance and protection of traffic during construction is crucial because this section of I-476 is the critical north/south link between I-95, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the Northeast Extension, carrying nearly 64,000 vehicles in each direction every day. Protecting the flow of traffic during construction is essential to accomplishing the project’s goals.

PennDOT will maintain three lanes of traffic during bridge construction. To maintain traffic during construction, PennDOT will implement an innovative express lane concept.  PennDOT recently used this concept with great success during the construction of I-81 in Harrisburg. The express lane pattern enables the same volume of traffic to continue to flow while reducing the number of stages needed for construction and minimizing impacts to the right-of-way.

Project Schedule