Construction Continues on Schuylkill and Blue Route This Week

According to a release issued by PennDOT, drivers in Montgomery County will encounter lane closures in both directions on Interstate 476 (Blue Route) and overnight stoppages on eastbound Interstate 76 (Schuylkill) this week, Oct. 3-11 as crews rebuild I-476 between the I-76 (Exit 16) and Germantown Pike West (Exit 20) interchanges.

Weather permitting, the contractor’s schedule for I-476 is:

• On Monday, Oct. 3, one of the two northbound lanes on the northbound side of I-476 between I-76 (Exit 16) and Germantown Pike East (Exit 19) will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 4);
• On Monday through Thursday, Oct. 3-6, one of the three southbound lanes on I-476 between Germantown Pike (Exit 20) and I-76 (Exit 16) will be closed at 7 p.m. and a second southbound lane will close at 11 p.m., reducing I-476 South to a single lane each night until 5 a.m. the following morning;
• On Thursday, Oct. 6, the northbound “express” lane on the southbound side of I-476 will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next morning, and one of two northbound lanes on the northbound side of I-476 will be closed between the Ridge Pike (Exit 18) and Germantown Pike East (Exit 19) interchanges from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7.
• On Friday, Oct. 7, one of the two northbound lanes on the northbound side of I-476 will be closed between the Ridge Pike (Exit 18) and Germantown Pike East (Exit 19) interchanges from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 8).
• Next weekend, Oct. 8-10, lane closures will be in place in both directions on I-476 between the I-76 (Exit 16) and Germantown Pike (Exit 20) interchanges from 5 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 8) to 5 a.m. Monday (Oct. 10) for concrete pavement pours in the center of the highway.

In addition, eastbound I-76 motorists will encounter intermittent traffic stoppages of up to 15 minutes at the I-476 Interchange on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 6-7, from midnight to 4 a.m.

Overnight lane closures also will be in place through Friday, Oct. 7, in both directions on Chemical Road between Ridge Pike and Gallagher Road in Plymouth Township from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning for painting at the I-476 overpass.

This work is part of PennDOT’s $71.7 million project to rebuild the 3.2 miles of I-476 between the I-76 (Exit 16) and Germantown Pike (Exit 20) interchanges in Montgomery County. 

Motorists are advised to allow extra time for travel through the work area and reminded to slow to the posted 45 miles per hour speed limit and remain alert for shifting traffic patterns in the work zone.

Allan A. Myers, LP of Worcester, Pa. is the general contractor on the $71,728,383 contract that is financed with 100 percent federal funds.

For more information on the I-476 improvement project, visit www.476blueroute.com.

PennDOT reminds drivers they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on I-476 and other major highways before heading out.