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I-76 lane restrictions planned at University Avenue in coming weekends

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 18 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., said both the eastbound and westbound directions of the Schuylkill Expressway will be restricted to one lane at the University Avenue/Grays Ferry Avenue interchange for construction during the next two weekends.

From 11 pm. Friday, Aug. 21 to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, and again Friday, Aug. 28 to Monday, Aug. 31, I-76 East will be restricted to one lane.

From 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21 to 5 a.m. Monday Aug. 24, as well as on the following weekend, Friday, Aug. 28 to Monday, Aug. 31, I-76 West will be down to one lane.

Josephs said the lane restrictions are occurring, weather permitting, to remove an inch of concrete pavement and add a new one-and-a-quarter-inch concrete overlay on the two bridges that carry the expressway over the Schuylkill River, CSX railroad tracks, Grays Ferry Avenue and 34^{th Street.}

"This resurfacing is intended to make the bridge decks water tight and extend the life of the decks 25 years," she said.

To avoid the construction and the potential lengthy backups and delays on the expressway, Josephs recommended drivers seek alternative routes such as I-95 North to I-676 West or I-95 South to I-476 North for westbound drivers. Eastbound drivers may take I-676 East to I-95 South or I-476 South to I-95 North.

Interstate 76 carries 129,000 vehicles a day in the University Avenue/Grays Ferry Avenue interchange, Josephs noted. This project, which began in March 2008, will improve the 1950s-era bridges, which were rated structurally deficient before the improvements began.

Total cost of the project, which includes structural steer repair and painting, bridge wall replacement and bridge deck repair and resurfacing, is $24 million and is slated to be completed in November.

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