I-95 To Re-Open This Weekend PA. Governor Says
ALEX LLOYD GROSS Governor Josh Shapiro could not give a definitive answer as to when Cottman Avenue exit ramp will be done.
by Alex Lloyd Gross
June 20,2023
When Governor Josh Shapiro paid a visit to Cottman Avenue and State Road to review the construction, he predicted with confidence that the temporary solution would reopen six lanes of I-95 by this weekend. The Cottman Avenue exit ramp will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
While Shapiro was quick to praise the workers who worked hard, he was also quick to duck any questions about the exit ramp to Cottman Ave. “That will be done later, We’ll get that all reopened when the process is done”, he said. He could not answer any questions about the method that will be used to make an exit ramp at Cottman Ave. In fact, he erroneously said that this reporter asked him that question twice. He was wrong. The first question was when will it open? The second was how will construction be done to get around I-95? At this point, we do not know if the ramp with go over, under, or through the base for I-95. It could also go around.
During the photo op, Shapiro thanked the construction workers who worked 24/7 to get this road open. He also said he was “addicted to the live stream”. Questions remain about the damages that the trucking company will pay. Shapiro did say the cost for this is estimated to be about $20 to 30 million dollars.
It was announced that federal money could be available for any business in this area that can prove they a suffered a financial loss due to the road closures. At times the press conference was interrupted by an overzealous man that was in the construction zone, who came to a fence to heap praise on Shapiro or the Mayor.