Security will be elevated in Philadelphia from July 23 to July 29 with the Democratic National Convention in town. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has announced commercial vehicles over 5 tons will be restricted on Interstate 95 during that time.
Starting Saturday, July 23, at 12 p.m. and ending midday Friday, July 29, commercial vehicles weighing more than 5 tons will be prohibited from traveling on Interstate 95 between Exit 13 (Interstate 76 West/Route 291/Valley Forge) and Exit 22 (Interstate 676).
All commercial vehicles more than 5 tons will be restricted to the interstate, including delivery trucks; utility vehicles; parcel trucks; small dump trucks; buses; flatbed and stake trucks; refrigerated and box trucks; large delivery trucks; refuse trucks; cement mixers; buses; and all tractor-trailer combinations including double trailers. Even motor homes and recreational trailers for personal use will be restricted if they weigh in at more than 5 tons.
Oversized loads will be prohibited from traveling in the region for the same time frame.
Detours include:
From I-95 north: Route 291 (Penrose Avenue) east, to 26th Street, to Interstate 76 west, to Interstate 676 east; and
From I-95 south: I-676 west, to I-76 east, to 26th Street, to Route 291 (Penrose Avenue) west.
The restriction will also apply to northbound and southbound I-95 entrance ramps between Exit 13 and Exit 22. Vehicles will be redirected to arterial roads to access I-95.
Other closures include:
The I-95 exit ramps at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) in south Philadelphia also will be closed during convention week.
The I-95 north exit ramp at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) will be closed from Friday, July 22 at 10 p.m. until midday Friday, July 29.
The southbound I-95 exit ramp at Broad Street (Route 611/Exit 17) will be open intermittently, but only for access to the Navy Yard. The southbound exit-ramp will be closed:
Friday, July 22, at 10 p.m. to Saturday, July 23, at 6 a.m.;
Monday, July 25, at 2 p.m. to Tuesday, July 26, at 2 a.m.;
Tuesday, July 26, at 2 p.m. to Wednesday, July 27, at 2 a.m.;
Wednesday, July 27, at 2 p.m. to Thursday, July 28, at 2 a.m.; and
Thursday, July 28, at 2 p.m. to midday Friday, July 29.
PennDot will launch a website in July informing travellers of the temporary changes. Drivers can go to 511PA.com/DNC for real-time traffic information, colour-coded maps and other traffic information affected by the convention
