Stack, McGeehan Applaud Cottman-Princeton Project Funding

PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 23, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack and Rep. Mike McGeehan today announced $31.5 million in state funding has been secured for the Interstate 95 Cottman-Princeton Interchange Project.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has committed $31.5 million for the first phase of the project, which involves reconstruction of Torresdale, Cottman and Princeton avenues. Construction will commence this year.

“PennDOT’s commitment to this project is also a commitment to the surrounding communities,” Stack said. “This project will make the communities of Torresdale, Holmesburg, Tacony and Wissinoming more attractive and safer for pedestrians, while improving the flow of traffic. Once this project is complete, these communities will be quieter and more residential and motorists will have better access to I-95 and Northeast Philadelphia.”

Specifically, according to PennDOT construction plans, the first phase includes the construction of a new southbound on-ramp from State Road at Longshore Street and a new northbound on-ramp from Milnor Street. The southbound on-ramp at Princeton Avenue will be removed and the avenue will be converted into a two-way road east of Torresdale Avenue, with pedestrian-friendly improvements like a bike lane, new sidewalks and expanded curbs.

In addition, Cottman Avenue will be converted into a two-way road, with one lane travelling eastbound and two lanes travelling westbound, from Torresdale Avenue to State Road.

“I’m pleased that PennDOT has committed money to the project and will move it forward. For too long, the residents who leave near the I-95 ramps at Cottman and Princeton avenues have put up with the traffic congestion, noise and speeding motorists on their own blocks,” McGeehan said. “Soon, residents will be able to walk or drive in their neighborhood without worrying about motorists and trucks flying down the street to get to and from the highway.”

The second phase of the project includes replacing each of the mainline bridges on I-95, which are structurally deficient, and the relocation of water and sewer lines.

The entire project is expected to cost $200 million and is scheduled for completion in 2011.

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