I-95 closures as PennDOT continues work on Penn's Landing CAP project
All lanes of I-95 South will be closed from Exit 22 to Exit 20, starting at 5 p.m. Saturday until 5 a.m. Monday
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Drivers in Philadelphia should prepare for another weekend closure on Interstate 95 South as PennDOT continues work on the construction project near Penn's Landing.
This will be the second highway closure associated with Philadelphia's CAP project.
I-95 South closure timing
All lanes of I-95 southbound will be shut down between 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 and 5 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 26. between Exit 22 (I-676/Callowhill St.) and the Morris Street on-ramp.
PennDOT says drivers will be directed to follow the posted alternate routes that include using the Girard Avenue Interchange (Exit 23) or the Callowhill Street Interchange (Exit 22) to access southbound Columbus Boulevard and the on-ramp to I-95 South at Morris Street.
Truck traffic will be directed to continue south on Columbus Boulevard and use Oregon Avenue and Front Street to access the on-ramp to I-95 South.
Drivers should also be aware that, ahead of the full closure, a single lane of I-95 South will be closed between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 24. between Exit 22 (I-676/Callowhill St.) and just below Walnut St.
Throughout the full southbound closure, the left lane of I-95 North will also be closed between Walnut Street and Chestnut Street.
PennDOT also wants drivers to be aware of the following ramp closures during the full I-95 South closure:
-The I-95 South ramp to Columbus Blvd./Washington Ave.
-The I-676 East ramp to I-95 South
PennDOT also announced that the Market Street ramp to I-95 South will be closed from Feb. 19 to March 11.
Officials noted that the Lombard Circle ramp to I-95 North, which is currently shut down, will remain closed through the I-95 South closure.
If the work in the southbound lanes isn't done by 5 a.m. on Feb. 26, another closure may have to be planned.
Construction continues on I-95 CAP project
The weekend closure will be similar to what drivers experienced when the northbound lanes were closed a few weeks ago, but crews say this process is trickier for them to tackle.
The work done during the northbound closure earlier this month was completed in about 30 hours. However, PennDOT officials say the southbound side could be trickier because after the demolition happens, there isn't any space on the southbound side to move the debris.
"We basically have to take all the material from the Market Street ramp, over Market Street, to that parking lot area. It's a lot less efficient than we had before - this is the tougher section. Northbound went well, but that was the easy one. This is a lot more involved, a lot more challenged," said Harold Windisch of PennDOT.
RELATED: New renderings, timeline released for Park at Penn's Landing
PennDOT says these weekend closures accelerate the demolition process on I-95 by about 4-5 months. The goal of the $329 million plan is to replace and expand the existing covered area over I-95 between Chestnut and Walnut streets with a park that is nearly 12 acres. It is expected to be completed in 2028.
However, to accommodate demolition work, a stretch of I-95 north was closed during the first weekend in February.
PennDOT says shifting to the southbound side brings new challenges.
On Sunday is when crews expect the biggest issues for drivers. PennDOT says it sees around 67,000 cars on a typical Sunday right through the section of construction, so they are asking people to plan ahead - especially with a Sixers game that Sunday afternoon.
"We're very limited on weekends. This is one that we coordinated with everybody and thought we could give it a shot. Everyone seems to be on board, so we're going to give it a go," said Brad Rudolph, deputy communications director for PennDOT.
PennDOT is asking people to use GPS if they're planning to be in the area this weekend.
Residents react to I-95 closure
People who work in the area told Action News they were not thrilled about the closures on Saturday night.
"It's ridiculous to get in and out of the city, at least over 35 minutes. So it's been hard for us," said Francis Gesuldo from South Philadelphia. "This holding us up is killing us."
The closure has also impacted Uber drivers across the city.
"I'm an Uber driver, going up and down 95 is part of what I do," noted Frank Cerione from Pennsport.
"Probably won't take rides going up the 95 corridor if I can avoid it," Cerione added.
Despite the traffic and travel delays, people say the disruption will be worth it for the finished product: a nearly 12-acre park that will replace the covered area over I-95 between Chestnut and Walnut streets.
"I think it's long overdue to have something like that in Philly," said Matthew Richardson from Fairmount.
"End goal is great, hopefully, they can keep to their timeline," added Cerione.
