Gov. Josh Shapiro was at State Road and Cottman Avenue this afternoon to announce that I-95 construction is ahead of schedule.
“Traffic will be flowing here on I-95 this weekend,” he said.
Shapiro, who was celebrating his 50th birthday, was joined by Mayor Jim Kenney, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, City Councilman Mike Driscoll, state Reps. Ed Neilson and Pat Gallagher and state Sen. Jim Dillon.
Demolition was completed last week in four days. Last weekend, crews filled the gap with ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate to build up to surface level. The approach was made possible with the aggregate material from a Delaware County business that has provided the ultra-lightweight foamed glass aggregate for use on other projects, including the Philadelphia Navy Yard and projects in New Jersey, Maine and Rhode Island.
Carroll said the interim surface contains parts that weigh 400,000 pounds, and that the road will be safe and sound.
Later this week, crews will begin paving and striping three new lanes in both directions. The Pennsylvania State Police will escort trucks carrying the pavers up I-95 to make sure they get to the site safely and as quickly as possible, as crews continue working around the clock to reopen I-95 this weekend.
Shapiro said he is addicted to the construction livestream –
https://www.penndot.pa.gov/RegionalOffices/district-6/Pages/AlertDetails.aspx.
The governor thanked Buckley & Company Inc., PennDOT and building trades workers for being on the job 24/7, in 12-hour shifts, in the heat and rain and on Father’s Day. He said the work is being done safely, the right way and ahead of schedule.
The federal government will pay $25 million to $30 million for the reconstruction. ••
