Route 13 Connector Project

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Project Description

The limits of the Route 13 Connector project extend from the former DVI Toll Plaza to Route 13. The Route 13 Connector ramp and bridge over Ellwood Avenue are being realigned to the south in order to directly link traffic to a proposed at-grade signalized intersection with Route 13. The reconstruction/widening of the Route 13 Connector ramp consists of plain cement concrete pavement with single lanes 12-15 feet wide in each direction with each lane accompanied by inside (5-foot) and outside (10-foot) shoulders. As the Route 13 Connector ramp converges at the signalized intersection with Route 13, the ramp widens to multiple on- and off-ramp turn lanes. As part of the realignment, the Route 13 Connector ramp bridge over Ellwood Avenue is being reconstructed in two separate stages, one for off-ramp to Route 13 and one for the on-ramp from Route 13. Existing PECO poles carrying electric wires and various fiber optic cables (Comcast, Verizon, Sunesys) which span over and under the existing Route 13 Connector ramp bridge at Ellwood Avenue are to be relocated. The existing bridge over Route 13 will be demolished.

Project Schedule

It is anticipated that the project will involve 5 stages of construction beginning in the spring of 2018 and completing in August of 2020. During the various stages of construction, traffic will be maintained on the ramp and Route 13 with limited periodic lane restrictions during off-peak nighttime hours.

Project Limits

Route 13 Connector Project Limits

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Construction Information Archive

September 2020 to February 2021

• Switched traffic along northbound/southbound Route 13 and on-/off-ramp A to its final configuration on August 28, 2020.
• Conducted final adjustment of the signalization at the at-grade intersection of Route 13 and ramp A.
• Excavated and installed the gabion baskets and concrete pavers at Basins 1-4. Placement of amended topsoil and plantings to occur in spring 2021.
• Formed and poured concrete curb along Ellwood Avenue.
• Milled and paved Ellwood Avenue.
• Began preparing project-wide punch list.
• The connection of PennDOT’s fiber optic cable of their interconnect system spanning from the intersection of ramp A and Route 13 to Green Lane remains to be completed.

February 2020 to August 2020

• Continued building traffic signal foundations.
• Began installing traffic signals at the intersection of Route 13 and on-/off-ramp A.
• Placed fiber optic and electrical conduit for traffic signals and connection to CCTV camera.
• Reconstructed median islands for final roadway configuration.
• Excavated existing ramp A and graded the in-field and sediment basin.
• Placed topsoil on areas where existing on-/off-ramps were removed.
• Installed drainage pipe along the off-ramp & at-grade intersection.
• Graded subgrade and placed subbase for the on-ramp A roadway on both sides of the Ellwood Avenue Bridge.
• Paved asphalt treated base course for the on-ramp A roadway and median on both sides of the Ellwood Avenue Bridge.
• Placed concrete pavement for the on-ramp A roadway and median on both sides of the Ellwood Avenue Bridge.
• Switched vehicular traffic from off-ramp A (Phase 1) to the new on-ramp A over the Ellwood Avenue Bridge (Phase 2).
• Milled and overlaid along Route 13 and placed corresponding pavement markings.
• Drove piles at Ellwood Avenue Bridge.
• Built substructure and superstructure at Ellwood Avenue Bridge.
• Installed Verizon conduit under Ellwood Avenue Bridge.
• Erected steel girders and poured concrete deck, bridge parapet, and approach slabs.

August 2019 to January 2020

• Switched traffic to off-ramp adjacent to sound barrier wall and crossing of New Ellwood Avenue Bridge (Phase 1).
• Excavated/graded Sediment Trap No. 3.
• Excavated existing median concrete pavement.
• Installed drainage pipe along off-ramp and at-grade intersection.
• Paved asphalt treated base course median.
• Placed/conducted slipforming of concrete pavement.
• Built traffic signal foundations.
• Erected traffic signal poles.
• Installed CCTV adjacent to Route 13.
• Placed topsoil, rock protection, and seed along slope behind sound barrier wall.
• Switched vehicular traffic from existing bridges to the new concrete ramp pavement for the at-grade intersection.
• Installed drainage pipe adjacent to northbound/southbound Route 13.
• Removed stockpile fill within ramp infield.
• Excavated/graded Sediment Trap No. 4.
• Widened northbound/southbound Route 13.
• Demolished Ellwood Avenue Bridge (Phase 2).
• Demolished ramp bridge over Route 13.
• PECO Energy completed directional drilling of steel casing under ramp.

March 2019 to July 2019

• Erected sound barrier wall.
• Prepared/placed concrete deck for Ellwood Bridge.
• Removed existing pavement.
• Graded/placed subgrade/subbase for off-ramp to Route 13.
• Paved asphalt treated base course for off-ramp to Route 13.
• Executed slipforming of concrete pavement for off-ramp to Route 13.
• Placed topsoil, rock protection, and seed along slope behind sound barrier wall.

December 2018 to February 2019

• Switched off-ramp and on-ramp traffic to the north.
• Drilled and poured sound barrier wall caissons.
• Began setting sound barrier wall steel posts and precast panels.
• Began placing embankment material at bridge approaches.
• Erected structural steel girders for first phase of Ellwood Bridge.
• Installed overhangs and stay-in-place for first phase of Ellwood Bridge.

October/November 2018

• Constructed east abutment wall for bridge over Ellwood Avenue.
• Continued driving piles at west abutment foundation for bridge over Ellwood Avenue.
• Constructed west abutment footing and foundation for bridge over Ellwood Avenue.
• Excavated and installed conduit for electric and fiber wires along on-ramp.
• Finished and seeded slopes and channels.
• Completed placing concrete roadway for widened on-ramp.
• Reset temporary barrier; striped and shifted traffic to widened on-ramp.
• Removed existing median barrier and temporarily paved median and crossover.
• Reset temporary barrier; striped and shifted off-ramp traffic to median.
• Removed existing median and temporarily paved median islands.
• Cleared and installed E&S measures east of Ellwood Bridge.

September 2018

• Continued drilling jack/bore casing under existing ramp to Route 13.
• Continued placing drainage pipe inside drilled casing.
• Continued placing embankment along the exit ramp west of Ellwood Avenue.
• Began installing drainage pipe adjacent to the exit ramp tying into Sediment Traps Nos. 1 & 2.
• Continued placing topsoil to final grades for Sediment Trap No. 2.
• Began driving soldier piles and building support of excavation at Abutment No. 1 of the I-276 Bridge over Ellwood Bridge.
• Began driving test and production piles at Abutment No. 1 of the I-276 Bridge over Ellwood Bridge.
• Began grading subgrade and subbase for shoulder widening along entry ramp to I-276/I-95.
• Began slipforming concrete pavement for shoulder widening along entry ramp to I-276/I-95.

August 2018

• Continued drilling jack/bore casing under entry/exit ramp to/from Route 13.
• Began placing embankment along the exit ramp west of Ellwood Avenue.
• Continued placing drainage pipe inside of drilled casing under entry/exit ramp to/from Route 13.
• Installed drainage pipe which outlets to Sediment Trap No. 2.
• Placed topsoil to final grades for Sediment Trap No. 2
• Continued removing topsoil/fill material and stockpiling adjacent to exit ramp to Route 13.
• Completed the temporary lighting along the entry ramp.
• Paved temporary widening along the entry ramp toward the west approach of the existing bridge.
• Milled/paved the existing shoulder along the entry ramp.

July 2018

• Began drilling jack/bore casing under entry/exit ramp to/from Route 13.
• Started placing drainage pipe inside of drilled casing under entry/exit ramp to/from Route 13.
• Continued excavating for Sediment Trap No. 2.
• Removed topsoil/fill material and stockpiling adjacent to exit ramp to Route 13.
• Built rock slope embankment.

June 2018

• Completed clearing trees and brush.
• Completed utility relocation at Ellwood Avenue.
• Began excavating jack/bore pits (4) and started the grout operation to stabilize roadway.
• Started excavating for Sediment Trap No. 2.
• Placed outlet pipe at Sediment Trap No. 2.
• Removed topsoil and stockpiling adjacent to exit ramp to Route 13.
• Started preparation (excavating pits, grouting) of jack/bore drainage pipe under Route 13 on/off ramps.

April/May 2018

• Surveyed project limits.
• Completed clearing trees and removing vegetation on project.
• Placed construction entrances.
• Completed Mill/Overlay of on/off ramp shoulders.
• Started preparation (excavating pits, grouting) of jack/bore drainage pipe under Rt. 13 on/off ramps.

March 2018

• PECO Energy has relocated utility poles, aerial wires and placed underground conduit on Ellwood Avenue due to their conflict with the new bridge.
• PECO Energy has relocated utility poles and aerial wires at Beaver Dam Road which had to be raised across the on/off ramp to Rt. 13.

February 2018

• PECO Energy continued relocating utility poles, aerial wires and placing underground conduit on Ellwood Avenue due to their conflict with the new bridge.
• PECO Energy continued relocating utility poles and aerial wires at Beaver Dam Road which have to be raised across the on/off ramp to Rt. 13.

January 2018

• PECO Energy began relocating utility poles and aerial wires and placing underground conduit on Ellwood Avenue due to their conflict with the new bridge.
• PECO Energy began relocating utility poles and aerial wires at Beaver Dam Road which have to be raised across the on/off ramp to Rt. 13.