Travel Advisories

• Stay alert for slow moving construction vehicles and obey posted speed limits.
• Under state law, fines for driving violations in active work zones (those marked by flashing lights) are doubled.
• Speeds 11 mph or more over the posted speed limit may result in a 15 day license suspension.
• Points assessed are doubled for work zone infractions.
• Some work zones have signs requiring motorists to turn on headlights.

PennDOT will reactivate ramp meters on I-476 during phase-in periods in February and March 2010.

In late February, PennDOT will activate ramp meters at the Route 1, Route 3 and Route 30 interchanges in Delaware County, and it will activate ramp meters in mid-to-late March at the Ridge Pike, Chemical Road and Germantown Pike interchanges in Montgomery County.

The I-476 ramp meters will initially operate weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The meters also will be used during emergency situations.

A ramp meter works much like a traffic signal. When the light is red, you stop. When the light turns green, you go. But unlike traffic signals, only one car or truck per lane is allowed to enter I-476 on a green light.

The metering rate for the red and green light at each ramp will be based on I-476 traffic capacity and the number of vehicles on the ramp. Motorists can expect the ramp meter to shine green for 2-to-4 seconds and red for 2-to-8 seconds.

PennDOT advises motorists to remember the following tips when approaching a metered ramp:

• Wait your turn in line;
• Drive slowly up to the stop line marked on the ramp;
• Stop when the signal is red;
• Wait for the light to turn green; and
• Proceed onto I-476 and merge safely into traffic

Motorists are reminded that disregarding a ramp meter is a punishable offense and carries the same penalties as running a red light.

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