As the Market Street Bridge Rehab Project Continues, Be Prepared for Upcoming I-76 Closures This Week

As part of the ongoing Market Street Bridge Rehab project currently underway by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), I-76 will be closed between JFK Boulevard and Chestnut Street from 9 PM, October 9^th through 5 AM, October 12^th. This closure is necessary to replace large, concrete sections of the area above I-76 which include Schuylkill Avenue and Market Street. Work will also take place overnight from the 4^th through the 8^th from 9 PM to 5 AM each day, with intermittent closures of either eastbound or westbound I-76.  

This will be a major impact closure, with PennDOT projecting traffic disruption similar to previous large-scale closures of interstates and major roads in Philadelphia (for example, Pope Francis’ visit in 2015). Below is PennDOT’s official detour route, which recommends that motorists traveling westbound on I-76 exit at the University Avenue/Grays Ferry exit (Exit 364B) and use 22^nd Street to rejoin I-76 via the I-676 entrance at Winter Street, and a eastbound detour which begins at the 30^th Street Station exit (Exit 345) and continues through Market Street west, 38^th Street, and University Avenue/34^th Street to rejoin I-76 at the Wharton Street entrance in Grays Ferry.  

During the I-76 closure, ongoing work on the University Avenue bridge will be paused, opening all four travel lanes to motorists. This project, which is necessary to ensure safe stability of the bridge, had previously reduced the bridge to two travel lanes. Work on the University Avenue bridge will resume on October 12^th.  

University City District encourages those making trips within University City to strongly consider other forms of transportation during this time, including SEPTA, Indego bikeshare, and carpooling. Many streets not on the detour route east of 38^th are likely to become congested due to GPS-recommendations and traffic backup along the official detour route.  

In the case of severe weather, this closure will be moved to October 24^th through 5 AM October 26^th. We will update this post and our social media accounts if the rain date is used.