Frequently Asked Questions
| What is the purpose of this project? |
| The goal of the I-95/US 322 Interchange Improvement Project is to reconstruct the interchange to alleviate congestion and increase safety for the traveling public. As part of this project, portions of I-95 and the US 322 and Bethel Road interchange will be upgraded. The Engle Street Bridge and the Highland Avenue Bridge will be reconstructed. A major issue that will be addressed by this project is US 322 eastbound traffic merging into the left lane of northbound I-95, then crossing four northbound lanes of I-95 to reach the Commodore Barry Bridge. A second issue is traffic cannot travel from US 322 East to I-95 South. Alternative improvement concepts include eliminating this traffic weave by shifting the alignment of the highway to enable US 322 eastbound traffic to enter I-95 northbound from the right side. Concepts also include the addition of a new ramp to allow traffic to travel US 322 East to I-95 South, a movement that does not exist today. The I-95/US 322 Interchange Project will seek to maintain or improve access to the City of Chester from I-95. |
| What is the schedule for this project? When do you plan to start construction and complete the new interchange? |
| The I-95/US 322 Interchange Improvement Project is in the Preliminary Design and Environmental Documentation (Environmental Assessment) phase that will involve environmental studies. This phase is expected to conclude in late 2012. Once the Preferred Alternative is identified and the EA is approved, the project can move into Final Design. At this time, PennDOT anticipates a construction start by 2018 and completion by about 2020. This schedule could be affected by unforeseen right-of-way and environmental issues and the availability of construction funding. AECOM, a transportation engineering and planning company located in Philadelphia, is conducting the preliminary engineering and Final Design for PennDOT. |
| Why is an environmental study necessary? Can’t you just fix the interchange now? |
| The reconstruction of an interchange like I-95/US 322 involves a number of complex and involved processes. Studies are needed to identify the purpose and need of the project, to identify the types of improvements that are needed and to develop alternative solutions to meet those needs. According to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, commonly referred to as NEPA, federal agencies, such as funding or permitting agencies, must evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a proposed action such as the reconstruction of a highway. NEPA requires a collaborative decision making process that discloses to the public the rationale behind the transportation decision and the environmental impacts resulting from it. To meet NEPA requirements, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) would be appropriate for this project because the significance of potential environmental impacts of the project is not known at this time. PennDOT must meet the requirements of NEPA and state and federal agencies that issue permits and clearances before being able to proceed to final design and construction. Gaining approval for major transportation projects can take several years. |
| How much will the project cost? |
| PennDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are funding this phase of the project, which includes Environmental Documentation and Preliminary Engineering, at a cost of $4.5 million. The current cost estimate for the project - including the construction of the I-95/US 322 interchange and the US 322/Bethel Road interchange - is approximately $120 million, not including right of way, in 2018 dollars. The cost estimate will be further evaluated through the project's alternatives analysis and design process. |
| Will this work be coordinated with the widening of US 322 between US 1 and PA 452? |
| Yes. The US 322 Reconstruction Project will widen the highway from 2 to 4 lanes from Route 1 to PA 452 and make safety improvements at intersections along the corridor. This project is in Final Design and will begin construction in 2015. The project website is located at www.us322-conchester.com. AECOM is using relevant environmental and traffic studies that were conducted for the US 322 Reconstruction Project and reviewing design plans and construction phasing plans to ensure proper coordination between this project and the Interchange Improvement Project. |
| Will this work be coordinated with the construction of the new ramps to the Commodore Barry Bridge? |
| Yes. The new ramps from the Commodore Barry Bridge to the waterfront in the City of Chester were opened to traffic in October 2011. AECOM is using relevant environmental and traffic studies that were conducted for the Commodore Barry Bridge Ramps Project to ensure proper coordination between this project and the Interchange Improvement Project. |
| Will the I-95/US 322 ramps stay open during construction? |
| Yes. The majority of work will be conducted during the day. PennDOT will maintain a minimum of 2 lanes in each direction on I-95 and 1 lane in each direction on US 322 during construction and during peak morning and evening travel hours. PennDOT will also keep Highland Avenue and the Highland Avenue Bridge open during peak hours. During the off-peak and evening hours, there will be limited and short-term lane closures to accomplish specific types of construction work that cannot otherwise be conducted. |
| Will the Highland Avenue Bridge stay open during construction? |
| Yes. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained during construction. This will allow the bridge to be replaced one half at a time while still allowing vehicular and pedestrian traffic to cross the bridge while construction takes place. |
| Will the Engle Street Bridge stay open during reconstruction? |
| Yes. One lane of traffic will remain open over the bridge as will a sidewalk for pedestrians. Temporary traffic signals will be required on both sides of the bridge to direct one-way traffic safely across the temporary single-lane structure. There will be temporary delays for drivers as one lane of traffic at a time is allowed over the bridge. |
| What are the various types of environmental studies being conducted for this project? |
| Information about natural, cultural and human resources is being collected and analyzed. Environmental specialists are conducting field studies on private and public property and collecting information from local, county, state and federal agencies. In terms of natural resources, specialists are documenting wetlands; floodplains; streams, surface waters and watersheds; groundwater; terrestrial habitats; threatened and endangered species, and hazardous waste. Noise monitoring and air quality analyses are also being conducted. Specialists are identifying historic properties and archaeological resources in order to collect cultural information. PennDOT is committed to reconstructing the I-95/US 322 interchange to improve safety and relieve congestion in a manner that minimizes impacts to these resources. |
| Why does PennDOT want to survey my property? |
| As part of the project, PennDOT’s consultant team of engineers, planners, and specialists are performing field surveys to document existing environmental and traffic conditions. These field surveys will be performed for the following reasons: determine traffic origins and destinations; assess the movement of traffic; monitor current noise levels; evaluate wetlands and other environmental resources; determine topographic features; take photographs of historic buildings and conduct archaeological investigations. Ultimately, these field surveys are being done to understand how to create traffic and safety improvements on this project, while avoiding and minimizing potential impacts. |
| Will my property need to be acquired to construct the interchange? |
| Additional right-of-way will be needed, but it is too early in the project to know which specific properties will be impacted. PennDOT’s project team is evaluating existing conditions and developing engineering alternatives. For each alternative, there will be preliminary assessments to determine the extent and location of additional highway right-of-way, including property acquisitions, which will be needed for each particular alternative. The project team will use the information on the extent and cost of right-of-way acquisition as part of the screening process to select the Preferred Alternative for the project. Once the Preferred Alternative is selected and approved, its alignment will be defined in Final Design and the amount of right-of-way will be determined. PennDOT is committed to minimizing the project's impacts on the environment and local communities, including right-of-way acquisition. |
| Are sound walls being planned as part of this project? |
| The I-95/US 322 Interchange Improvement Project includes a noise impact evaluation that will be conducted in accordance with the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) and PennDOT’s guidelines and policies. Noise monitoring will be conducted to document existing noise levels and to calibrate predictive noise models that were used to predict future noise levels for the project alternatives. The team will then identify locations where noise abatement is warranted, feasible and reasonable. These locations will be presented to the public together with the preliminary Preferred Alternative in a public Open House meeting. One of the more common noise mitigation measures used in association with highways is a noise barrier, or sound wall. The size, location, and extent of barriers are based on the existing noise levels, predicted noise levels, and the predicted effectiveness of the barrier. |
| How can I communicate my views to PennDOT? |
The website on the internet located at www.i95-us322.com has been developed so that citizens can be informed about the project and provide feedback. Also a Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) has been organized for the project. The CAC is comprised of transportation and regional planning organizations, government officials, businesses and citizen representatives. In addition, PennDOT will hold two open house meetings at key decision-making points in the project so that local resident issues and concerns may be properly addressed. The first Open House was held in 2008 and the second will take place near the end of the project. Open houses will be advertised in local newspapers and announced on the project website. Finally, special neighborhood events and presentations are planned so residents can speak informally with the project team about the project. Emails may be directed to Peter Berthold, PennDOT Project Manager, at peberthold@state.pa.us or to David Didier, AECOM Project Manager, at david.didier@aecom.com. Letters and telephone calls may be directed to Mr. Berthold and Mr. Didier using the contact information provided below.
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Engineering District 6-0
Peter Berthold, PE, Project Manager
PennDOT District 6-0
7000 Geerdes Boulevard
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 205-6712
(610) 205-6903 (fax)
AECOM
David Didier, PE
Project Manager
1700 Market Street, Suite 1600
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 735-0832
(215) 735-0883 (fax) |
| How is PennDOT working with local officials and other stakeholders on this project? |
| PennDOT is working with residents and local officials though the Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC) and through public meetings. The project’s website will keep people up-to-date about the project. In addition, PennDOT will meet with officials and businesses to interview them about transportation concerns, needs and improvement alternatives in the project area. On an as needed basis, PennDOT will hold meetings with representatives from environmental and transportation interest groups and with representatives from major landowners in the area. PennDOT will seek local input throughout the project during the environmental clearance and preliminary engineering phase and beyond. |
| Incidents on I-95 can cause serious traffic impacts on local roads. Are ITS and incident management strategies planned? |
ITS, Intelligent Transportation Systems, use advanced technologies to increase the safety and efficiency of the surface transportation system. ITS is a means for managing traffic and for keeping the public informed about traffic and transit conditions. Some of the advanced technologies include ramp metering, dynamic message signs (DMS), highway advisory radio (HAR), incident detection and closed circuit television cameras (CCTV), electronic toll collection, signal systems and traveler information systems. ITS programs have an intermodal component that incorporates highways, transit and railroads. Incident management is a specific application of ITS which uses predetermined policies and procedures so municipalities and agencies can react, respond, remove and reopen portions of highways that are closed by a crash.
ITS equipment and infrastructure were installed in 2010 and this year along I-95 from the Delaware State Line to the Girard Point Bridge in Philadelphia. PennDOT installed closed circuit television, electronic message boards and other devices that communicate information about delays and incidents to drivers. AECOM is coordinating the design and engineering of the I-95/US 322 interchange project with this project.
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