Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, reminding operators of all vehicles to share the road as more motorcyclists will be heading out on state roads this year.
“With the increase of motorcycle use across the commonwealth, we all need to watch out for and respect one another on our highways,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler.
“Drivers need to be especially alert for motorcycles, which sometimes are not as easily seen as larger vehicles,” he said.
More than 4,100 crashes involving motorcycles occurred in the state in 2007, resulting in 225 motorcycle-related fatalities.
The number of registered motorcycles and licensed motorcyclists increased in 2007 by nearly 22,000 and nearly 13,000, respectively.
By virtue of their size and differences in maneuverability, motorcycles present unique challenges for their operators and other drivers. To improve safety, PennDOT recommends that motorists always check their mirrors and blind spots at intersections, and before making lane changes since motorcycles are smaller and harder to pick out among larger vehicles.
Likewise, vehicle operators are also reminded to allow adequate following distance and space for a motorcycle to maneuver. Road and weather conditions that may be minor annoyances to the average driver can pose a major hazard for motorcyclists.
SIGN INSPECTIONS
There will be several lane restrictions on I-95 in Chester and Tinicum this week due to overhead sign inspections.
Today (May 6) and Thursday the right lane of I-95 North/South will be closed 9 a.m.-3 p.m. between Exit 6 (Route 320) and Exit 9 (Essington/Prospect Park).
Today, one lane of Route 291 North/South in Tinicum will be closed 9 a.m.-noon between Fourth Avenue and Philadelphia International Airport in Tinicum.
Today and Thursday, one lane of Route 420 North/South will be closed noon-3 p.m. between Darby Creek and Second Street.
Wednesday and Friday, one lane of I-95 South will be closed between Darby Creek and Fourth Avenue 9 a.m.-noon in Tinicum.
Wednesday and Friday, one lane of I-95 North in Tinicum will be closed between Darby Creek and Fourth Avenue noon-3 p.m.
Thursday, one lane of the I-95 North/South/Wanamaker Avenue Collector,will be closed 1-3 p.m. between Darby Creek and Fourth Avenue.
Commodore Barry Bridge
The Commodore Barry Bridge area will undergo major projects with lane closings due to an $8 million deck joint repair project this month and a $71 million project to build two new ramps to provide direct access between Route 291 (Second Street) and I-95 in Chester.
Although no exact date has been set yet, an $8 million project begins in May to replace 74 existing compression seal joints with new strip seal joints on the bridge approach structure, according to the Delaware River Port Authority. The DRPA owns/operates four bridges across the Delaware River.
The deck joint job must be completed in a timely manner so PennDOT can build new ramps connecting the bridge with the Chester waterfront, said DRPA Chief Engineer William Brooks.
The project will involve closing two of its five lanes for almost seven months – not good news for seashore and work commuters as the vacation season approaches by Memorial Day.
Further details on the project, such as which lanes will be closed and the hours of construction are pending, said DRPA spokesman Ed Kasuba.
Construction begins early this month on the I-95/U.S. Route 322 (Commodore Barry Bridge) Interchange Improvement Project that will reconstruct the interchange to improve congestion and provide access between I-95 and the Chester waterfront area. The PennDOT project will be done in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration.
Construction is expected to finish by August 2011, according to PennDOT spokesman Charles Metzger.
The project will provide direct access from Route 322 East and I-95 to Route 291 via a new off-ramp from the Barry Bridge.
A new on-ramp to the bridge from Route 291 will provide access to Route 322 West and I-95 from the Chester waterfront.
This improvement project will reconstruct the interchange connecting two heavily traveled corridors – I-95 and Route 322 – which carries traffic from Chester and Delaware counties eastward to New Jersey via the bridge.
DRPA will be doing their work first and then PennDOT will be starting on one of the new ramps, Metzger said. A second ramp will be built after that.
Clearing work will be performed first and some aerial easements must be worked out with some property owners, he said.
Darby-Paoli Road
Lane closures are scheduled on Darby-Paoli Road between Brooke Road and Newtown Road in Radnor 7 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays for bridge pier repairs. The work is expected to be finished by July.
Traffic will be controlled by flagging.
Traffic Delays
Chester/Upland – Kerlin Street Bridge sidewalk repairs, lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
Thornbury – Thornton Road, headwall repairs between Derry and Buck Run roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Route 291 – Eddystone/Ridley Township, inlet maintenance between Saville and Stewart avenues 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Chadds Ford – U.S. Route 1 North/South, paving between Brinton Lake Road and Chester County line 6 p.m.-6 a.m. weekdays.
Brinton Lake Road – Concord and Thornbury, paving between Route 1 and Dilworthtown Road 6 p.m.-6 a.m. Friday.
Springfield – Baltimore Pike, Aqua utility installation between Route 320 (Sproul Road) and Paper Mill Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 30. Work began April 21.
Middletown – Baltimore Pike South, bridge parapet repairs between Wawa Road and Franklin Mint roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays.
Springfield Road – Aldan and Upper Darby, PECO Energy utility repairs between Providence Road and Massachusetts Avenue 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday/Tuesday.
Chester Township –Concord Road: utility installation between Commerce Drive and McDonald Boulevard 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 4.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.