Traffic Restriction In Philadelphia July 23-29

[OB-One]

Vehicles weighing over 5 tons will be prohibited from traveling on Interstate 95 through Philadelphia during next month’s Democratic National Convention. This includes all commercial vehicles, motor homes and recreational trailers operated for personal use and weighing more than five tons.

The restriction begins Saturday, July 23 at noon and ends Friday, July 29. Vehicles weighing over 5 tons will not be able to travel I-95 between Exit 13 (Interstate 76 West/Route 291/Valley Forge) and Exit 22 (Interstate 676).

Drivers of vehicles weighing over 5 tons are advised to travel on interstate highways outside the Philadelphia region, if possible, during the week of the convention to avoid being diverted off I-95.”

The following are the posted detours that drivers of vehicles over five tons will be directed to follow to return to I-95 once they exit the interstate:

• From I-95 north: Route 291 (Penrose Avenue) east, to 26th Street, to Interstate 76 west, to Interstate 676 east; and
• From I-95 south: I-676 west, to I-76 east, to 26th Street, to Route 291 (Penrose Avenue) west.

In addition, the northbound and southbound entrance ramps to I-95 between Exit 13 and Exit 22 in Philadelphia will be closed to commercial vehicles over five tons. Commercial vehicles will be directed to use arterial roads to reach either I-95 north or south beyond Exit 13 or Exit 22.

All interstate highways and expressways in the Philadelphia region will remain open to passenger vehicles throughout the convention. Commuters are advised to allow additional time for travel on I-76, I-676 and Route 291 during this time because these highways will experience heavier traffic volumes due to vehicles weighing over 5 tons being diverted off I-95. Citizens should consider using public transportation for travel into and out of Center City.

The I-95 exit ramps at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) in south Philadelphia also will be closed during convention week.

The I-95 north exit ramp at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) will be closed from Friday, July 22 at 10 p.m. until midday Friday, July 29.

[Ray,IN]

That sucks

[JiminJersey]

Anyone traveling north or south past Philly next week is probably advised to take the Jersey side of things. The Jersey Turnpike and I-295 are both fairly easily reached from I-95NB by taking the Delaware Memorial Bridge and they will both bypass the restrictions, which are primarily, if not completely, in Pennsylvania. Same thing for south-bound travellers, if you're on I-95 get over to I-295 or the Turnpike while you're still well north of Philly and you should be ok. There's construction on I-295 just outside of Philly, but its not nearly as bad as that on I-95 over on the PA side of the river.