Road Rant (See Video)
Courtesy of the road – what’s that? It only takes a major gusty thunderstorm that knocks out traffic lights all over the county like the one Thursday afternoon to show the lack of it.
Going home up Bishop Avenue hill at Baltimore Pike in Upper Darby, few if any vehicles traveling on the pike were willing to stop and give the motorists on Bishop a break.
In other words, when the lights are out, they should proceed as if there’s stop signs in all directions and let a few cars proceed at a time.
I noted that just before the lights went back on before lunchtime Friday, temporary stop signs on short platforms had been placed on the corners.
The intersection of Springfield Road and Norwinden Drive in Springfield was one of the rare corners I observed where the drivers were actually stopping and being courteous to other drivers. And there were no temporary stops signs posted Friday.
Township Line Road and Rolling Road was a different story. Not many drivers on Township Line Road were giving the drivers on Rolling Road a break. I guess they still thought they were on the Media Bypass.
The very busy intersection of West Chester Pike (Route 3) at Lawrence Road – not far from the Blue Route (I-476) ramps – also showed little driver courtesy Friday. The West Chester Pike motorists hardly slowed down, especially those eastbound.
During my travels through a maze of roadblocks due to downed trees and power lines, I never saw any police officer directing traffic late Friday morning and through noontime.
However, I finally saw a Haverford officer directing traffic a block east of the other West Chester Pike intersection I mentioned. I know many officers in the county were tied up with other storm-related duties, but still I think there should have been more traffic control at key intersections.
Fortunately, I didn’t see any accidents. And wasn’t one of them.
I-95 Bridge Work
Daytime and nighttime lane closures will be in effect this week on I-95 between the Girard Point Bridge and Broad Street Interchange in Philadelphia for two ongoing bridge improvement projects, PennDOT said.
Southbound traffic on the I-95/Girard Point Bridge will be reduced from three lanes to two Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and 8 p.m.-5 a.m. for concrete resurfacing.
Northbound traffic will be reduced to two lanes Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
SEPTA Station
The SEPTA Board approved a resolution to allow Pattison Station to be renamed AT&T Station under a naming rights agreement that will bring in over $5 million over five years in revenue for transit operations.
AT&T is the only wireless carrier providing coverage underground along the Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines.
Barry Bridge
Monday-Thursday, 5 a.m.-3 p.m., the eastbound lane next to the right-hand eastbound lane will be closed for construction.
Franklin Bridge
The two right eastbound lanes will be closed between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday for inspection and upgrades.
Wednesday and Thursday, the two right westbound lanes will be closed during the same hours for similar work.
Blue Route Testing
Lane restrictions are scheduled on the Blue Route (I-476) in Delaware and Montgomery counties Tuesday and Wednesday for pavement testing.
Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., the right lane will be closed on I-476 North between Route 3 and Route 30 in Marple, Haverford and Radnor.
Wednesday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., the right lane will be closed on I-476 North between Route 30 and Route 23/I-76 in Radnor and Lower Merion and West Conshohocken, Montgomery County.
Route 252
Starting in early July, road crews will be milling/paving Route 252 in Newtown between White Horse Road and Gradyville Road.
Work will be done 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and must be completed within 30 days. Expect delays.
Newtown
St. Davids Road will be closed between Route 252 and Darby-Paoli Road in Newtown 6 a.m.-8 p.m. June 28 through July 4 for the AT&T National Golf Tournament.
During the tournament, St. Davids Road through traffic will be detoured over Newtown Road, Sugartown Road, Route 30 (Lancaster Avenue) and Conestoga Road.
Local access will be maintained up the Aronimink Golf Course.
Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
Chadds Ford
Beaver Dam Road in Chadds Ford will be closed/detoured at the Delaware state line for one more week for road repairs and resurfacing.
A posted detour will take through traffic into Delaware on Beaver Valley Road, Ramsey Road and Brandywine Creek Road. Local access will be maintained up to the construction area.
Traffic Delays
Ridley Township – Fairview Road closed, Aqua utility installation between Sherman Avenue and Emlen Street 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 24-hour detour through July 9.
Radnor – Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli and Hunt roads for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through Aug. 21. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Also, Radnor-Chester Road, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Lancaster Avenue and Conestoga Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 29.
Concord – Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began in September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) – Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch/Road Rant appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.