December 27, 2023
Thom Carroll/For PhillyVoice
The Roosevelt Expressway ramp that leads to I-76 West and City Avenue has been closed indefinitely due to structural damage incurred during a vehicle collision on Tuesday, PennDOT officials say.
Motorists can expect delays on the Roosevelt Expressway because the ramp that leads to I-76 West and City Avenue is closed until further notice, PennDOT officials said.
The ramp was shut down Tuesday afternoon after a large vehicle crash on the bridge caused structural damage. It will remain closed until engineers and contractors can make the required safety repairs.
The ramp – which is among Philadelphia's busiest junctures – remains closed as of Wednesday afternoon. A PennDOT spokesperson said design staffers have begun the repair process and that repair supplies are needed from a fabricator. The timeline for its completion is unknown, the spokesperson said.
Drivers are being redirected to I-76 eastbound, Montgomery Avenue and then onto I-76 westbound. PennDOT advised drivers to follow detour signs and allow extra time for commuting.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, a commercial truck with two shipping containers caused the accident early Tuesday afternoon. The driver hit the exit ramp while traveling on I-76 underneath it, ejecting the containers onto the highway and damaging the bridge. The driver reported minor injuries and was taken to a hospital nearby.
Roosevelt Boulevard has been undergoing a $12.5 million improvement project that includes intersection upgrades, new bus lanes and road signals thanks to $12.5 million in state funding. A bill in the state Senate would make speed cameras permanent on the Boulevard following a pilot program that began in 2020.
