I-95 South in Center City to close next weekend for construction

Drivers may want to steer clear of I-95 in Center City next weekend.

The interstate’s southbound lanes will be closed for 36 hours from the evening of Feb. 24 to the morning of Feb. 26 as part of the ongoing $329 million project to construct a highway cap at Penn’s Landing.

Beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, I-95 South will be blocked off from the Vine Street Expressway/Callowhill Street to Morris Street, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said Monday. The closure is expected to remain in effect until 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26.

At the same time, the ramps from I-676 East to I-95 South and from I-95 South to Columbus Boulevard/Washington Avenue will be closed.

The ramp from Market Street to I-95 South is set to close Monday, Feb. 19, and will stay off-limits until mid-March, while the Lombard Circle ramp to I-95 North closed Jan. 10 and is expected to remain shuttered through early March.

In addition, there will be a single lane closed on I-95 South between the Vine Street Expressway and Walnut Street from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, and the left lane of I-95 North will be shut down from 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, to 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26.

During the weekend closure, drivers will be directed to use the Girard Avenue or Callowhill Street interchanges to access Columbus Boulevard, according to PennDOT. Motorists can reenter the highway at Morris Street.

Regionally, electronic message boards will encourage drivers to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76, I-476, U.S. 1, the New Jersey Turnpike, I-295 and U.S. 130 to avoid the affected area.

PennDOT said the highway closures are being coordinated with officials from the city, Delaware, New Jersey, the South Philadelphia sports complex, SEPTA and other agencies.

A similar closure, impacting the northbound lanes, was in place for the same period of time earlier this month. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration said PennDOT was able to reopen the lanes earlier than scheduled.

Workers are demolishing the existing overpass near Chestnut Street. Once complete, the new cap will incorporate an 11.5-acre park at Penn’s Landing and a redesigned bridge at South Street.