How much traffic is expected on the new Lafayette Street?
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) and McCormick Taylor, Inc. have completed traffic projections for design year 2030. DVRPC’s projections for annual average daily traffic at the interchange are between 18,800 and 19,800 vehicles in the design year 2030.
Will the project be constructed all at once?
No. Depending on funding and completion of right-of-way requirements and final design, the project will be built in phases. The following three phases are currently anticipated:
• Reconstruct existing Lafayette Street, including new traffic signals, sidewalks, and streetscape amenities. Additional parking and landscaping, as well as some open space and amenities along the Schuylkill River Trail, will be included.
• Extend Lafayette Street from Ford Street to Conshohocken Road and improve Ridge Pike intersections.
• Complete the new PA Turnpike interchange and provide associated improvements along Conshohocken Road and Ridge Pike.
The final phase, dependent on funding, will be the Lafayette Street interchange to the US 202 Dannehower Bridge. This will be done at the same time the bridge is reconstructed, sometime within the next 25 years.
What are the impacts associated with the project?
The project will require the acquisition of 5 businesses and 14 residential properties. During construction phases, temporary traffic detours and interruptions to traffic patterns can be expected. All efforts will be made to reduce and minimize noise and dust associated with construction. Public informational meetings will be held throughout design and construction to minimize inconveniences to residents and businesses.
How much will the project cost?
The total estimated cost for the first three phases is approximately $96 million (in 2009 dollars) and is designated as follows:
Conceptual Design, Planning, and Environmental Studies
$3,000,000
Preliminary Design
$4,000,000
Final Design
$11,000,000
Right-of-Way
$8,000,000
Utilities, Construction, and Construction Engineering
$70,000,000
TOTAL
$96,000,000
What is the current schedule for the project?
The conceptual design, planning, and environmental approval phases are complete. Under a funding agreement between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and Montgomery County, preliminary engineering is progressing and should be completed in 2007. Final design of all phases, except the Dannehower Bridge, will begin in late 2007. Construction of Phase I, the reconstruction of existing Lafayette Street, is anticipated in 2009. The other two phases will be under construction by 2011 and open by 2013.
