Living in the bustling city of Philadelphia means facing the daily frustration of traffic jams, with the Blue Route being a particular headache for commuters in Delaware and Montgomery Counties. The 20-mile expressway, part of Interstate 476, connects Interstate 95 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Northeast Extension, offering a crucial link in the region’s transportation network.
Each day, over 100,000 vehicles use the Blue Route, making it a vital artery for the area. However, during rush hour, this traffic comes to a standstill, leaving drivers stuck in long lines of cars and trucks.
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The congestion is especially troublesome along a 9-mile stretch in Delaware County, where the highway is reduced to two lanes in each direction. To address this issue, PennDOT has come up with an innovative solution – flexible third lanes created by widening the shoulders on both sides of the median.
These flexible lanes will be signaled by overhead indicators, similar to the systems used on bridges crossing the Delaware River between New Jersey and Philadelphia. This approach aims to ease traffic flow by utilizing the existing infrastructure more efficiently.
Construction on the Blue Route is expected to begin in 2027 and should be completed within three years if all goes according to plan. With a budget of about $60 million, this project offers a cost-effective solution to the traffic congestion without the need for costly highway expansions.
The Blue Route, also known as the Mid-County Expressway or the Veterans Memorial Highway, was designed with input from the local community to strike a balance between capacity and community needs. However, the rise in multi-car households and population growth in the region led to traffic problems much sooner than anticipated.
Flex lanes are part of PennDOT’s broader strategy to manage traffic more effectively on key highways in the region. Besides the Blue Route, plans are underway to introduce flex lanes on I-76 and other major roadways, offering a dynamic approach to handling traffic fluctuations.
Once operational, the flex lanes will be closely monitored to optimize traffic flow and enhance the overall transportation experience for commuters. This innovative solution reflects a shift towards more efficient use of existing infrastructure to address growing transportation challenges.
With plans for flex lanes limited to Southeastern Pennsylvania for now, PennDOT is taking a proactive approach to managing traffic congestion and promoting sustainable transportation solutions. By leveraging technology and innovative strategies, transportation authorities are working to create a more efficient and reliable highway system for the future.