Part of Schuylkill Expressway eastbound to be closed all weekend for roadwork

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Schuylkill Expressway eastbound is shutting down all weekend for roadwork.

I-76 EB will be closed between 30th Street and South Street.

The closure begins late Friday and runs to 5 a.m. Monday.

Crews will be repaving and resurfacing the Schuylkill so it's all ready for the Monday morning commute.

Prior to Friday night's full closure, eastbound I-76 will be reduced to a single lane between the 30th Street and South Street interchanges from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.. When eastbound I-76 is closed, motorists will be directed to use the following alternate routes:

Follow eastbound I-676 to southbound Interstate 95 to access I-76; or

Exit at 30th Street, follow 30th Street around the station, turn right on Market Street, left on 38th Street and straight on University Avenue to 34th Street to access the ramp to eastbound I-76.

During the closure of eastbound I-76, the following ramps will be closed and detoured from 11 p.m., Friday, September 13, to 5 a.m., Monday, September 16:

Westbound I-676 ramp to eastbound I-76. I-676 motorists will be detoured west on I-76 to the Montgomery Drive/West River Drive exit, then take the ramp to eastbound I-76 and follow the detour at 30th Street; and

Walnut Street ramp to eastbound I-76. Motorists will be directed to follow Walnut Street, turn left on 38th Street and go straight on University Avenue to 34th Street and the ramp to eastbound I-76.

In addition, westbound I-76 will be closed overnight and eastbound I-76 will be restricted to a single lane overnight next week between the 30th Street and Interstate 676 interchanges for painting and demolition of sections of the overhead viaduct.

Weather permitting, the I-76 work schedule for next week is:

Monday, September 16, through Friday, September 20, westbound I-76 will be reduced to a single lane at 9:00 PM, then closed completely from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning between the 30th Street and I-676 interchanges for demolition and painting of the Schuylkill Avenue viaduct over I-76. During the closure, westbound I-76 motorists will exit at 30th Street and follow Schuylkill Avenue to the ramp to westbound I-76 or to eastbound I-676;

Monday, September 16, through Friday, September 20, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, there will be periodic, short-term closures of the deceleration lane on westbound I-76 approaching the ramp to 30th Street for concrete placement under the viaduct; and

Tuesday, September 17, through Friday, September 20, from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning, eastbound I-76 will be reduced to a single lane between the I-676 and South Street interchanges for pavement repairs.

Drivers are advised to use an alternate route or allow extra time when traveling through the work areas during the lane closures because significant backups and delays will occur.

Next week's scheduled overnight closings of westbound I-76 will be adjusted to start later than 11 p.m. if necessary to accommodate motorists leaving the sports complex in South Philadelphia.

PennDOT is repairing and resurfacing the I-76 viaduct under a $39.8 million contract that also includes repairs to the three-span I-76 structure over Route 23 (Conshohocken State Road) in West Conshohocken Borough, just east of the Interstate 476/Conshohocken Interchange in Montgomery County. More information is available at www.I76viaduct.com.