Exciting Changes Coming to Philadelphia’s Waterfront: Road Closures and Construction Updates
As PennDOT continues its transformative project to cap I-95 and create a stunning new park at Penn’s Landing, motorists traveling along Columbus Boulevard should brace themselves for upcoming road closures and detours. Starting on Monday, July 15, lanes along southbound Columbus Boulevard will be restricted at two key points until mid-next year. Between Race and Market streets, the road will be reduced from three lanes to two, and from Market to Walnut streets, it will go down to just one lane.
These road restrictions are necessary to allow crews to relocate a sewer line and lay down foundations for a pier that will help extend the cap over I-95 and Columbus Boulevard. Weekdays are currently seeing Columbus Boulevard shrink to two lanes northbound from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for utility construction at the same spots.
These lane closures are part of a broader plan that includes various traffic disruptions and detours during the construction of the impressive $329 million park, which will stretch from Chestnut to Walnut streets, from north to south. The completion of this 11.5-acre park is projected for 2029 and will feature an array of amenities like an ice rink, public gardens, memorials, a children’s play area, an amphitheater, food trucks, a cafe, and a striking mass-timber pavilion. The park’s design also includes flexible open spaces intended for performances, festivals, fairs, and other community events.
Furthermore, the project will extend the South Street Bridge across Columbus Boulevard to provide cyclists and pedestrians with more direct access to the Delaware River waterfront. PennDOT officials suggest this phase could wrap up by as early as next year. To stay informed about detours and road closures related to the I-95 cap project, be sure to visit PennDOT’s project website for the latest updates.