Northeast Philadelphia will be the site of the most expensive construction contract in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s history — a $212.3 million effort to rebuild a portion of Interstate 95 and its Cottman Avenue Interchange.
PennDOT awarded the low-bid contract to Walsh Construction Company II of Canonsburg, Pa. Work will begin in August with major utility replacements along Wissinoming Street.
Mainline construction on I-95 could start as early as fall 2013 to prepare the highway’s shoulders and median. Work is expected to continue through summer 2017.
“This record-setting contract is for the second stage of our two-stage program to improve travel through the I-95/Cottman Avenue Interchange by building new ramps, upgrading local streets and providing a continuous fourth travel lane in each direction on the interstate,” PennDOT District 6 Executive Lester C. Toaso said in a printed statement.
“We are addressing critical roadway, bridge and utility infrastructure needs at this heavily traveled interchange to provide motorists with smoother travel for years ahead.”
The previous record contract was a $105.4 million upgrade of Route 202 in Chester County.
Walsh will rebuild 1.4 miles of I-95 between Levick Street and Bleigh Avenue; replace seven structurally deficient bridges on the highway and widen another; build a new on-ramp to southbound I-95 from Cottman Avenue; upgrade four existing ramps; extend Princeton Avenue eastbound to Milnor Street; reconstruct New State Road; build 13 retaining walls; replace an 84-inch diameter water main and a 10.5-foot by 10.5-foot sewer box culvert along Wissinoming Street; and install storm water drainage pipes and Intelligent Transportation System equipment.
This contract follows a $34 million phase that is nearing completion at the Cottman Avenue Interchange. Crews have built two new ramps and improved Cottman Avenue, Princeton Avenue and State Road to move traffic to and from I-95, enhancing the Tacony neighborhood. The phase began in 2009 and will finish this summer.
About 128,000 vehicles travel on I-95 at the Cottman Avenue Interchange daily.
Visit www.95revive.com for project information. ••
