Traffic on the Blue Route is a constant source of frustration for commuters, reports Michael Tanenbaum for the Philly Voice. The 20-mile part of Interstate 476 in Delaware and Montgomery counties is prone to frequent jams during rush hour.
The expressway links Interstate 95 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Northeast Extension. On a typical day over 100,000 vehicles ride along its six lanes. During rush hour, this traffic slows to a crawl.
“It’s a peak-hour problem, in our eyes,” said Timothy Stevenson, a project designer for PennDOT.
To help alleviate the issue, PennDOT plans to create flexible third lanes by widening the shoulders on both sides of the median. Overhead signals will inform drivers when those lanes can be used, mostly during peak travel times.
“If you’ve driven over the river bridges, you’ll see overhead lane control signs with Xs and green arrows telling you when a lane is open for traffic,” said Stevenson. “We’re going to be doing that same kind of lane control along I-476 so that drivers know when the lane is legally open for use and when it is meant to be used as a shoulder.”
Read more about the Blue Route in the Philly Voice.
