Plans to alleviate rush-hour traffic jams on Interstate 476 by adding part-time shoulder use are slowly moving forward, writes Pete Bannan for The Times Herald.

Traffic on the two-lane southbound Blue Route often backs up during the rush hour leaving drivers stuck.

Todd Bennett of Glen Mills, a former traffic report producer, does not like being slowed down so much when he uses the highway, but also realizes there are limitations to expanding the road, which makes the shoulder the best available option.

“Being it isn’t in the cards for PennDOT to build or add more lanes, this is the next best solution in my opinion given circumstances to attempt to alleviate all of the volume,” said Bennett.

The idea of adding a shoulder to Interstate 476 to alleviate rush-hour traffic jams was first brought up in 2017 by then-Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Leslie Richards.

Now, those plans are moving forward. According to PennDOT Safety Press Officer Krys Johnson, the construction for the part-time shoulder should start in 2026.

The work will represent stage two of PennDOT’s Active Traffic Management project currently underway on Interstate 476 and Interstate 95 in Delaware County.

Read more about plans to alleviate rush-hour traffic jams on Blue Route by adding part-time shoulder use in The Times Herald.