Background
Ridge Pike is owned by Montgomery County from Philadelphia to Norristown. Section B of Ridge Pike between Belvoir Road to Chemical Road is a busy commercial corridor with many driveways and delivery trucks. Traffic volumes approach 30,000 vehicles per day through this section. The combination of high traffic volumes, many commercial driveways and the lack of a sheltered left turn lane creates a situation where vehicles weave back and forth across travel lanes to avoid turning vehicles. In addition, many businesses along the corridor rely on employees who use transit to get to work; however, the lack of sidewalks or protected pedestrian crossings makes walking along Ridge Pike difficult, at best.
The engineering firm for Section B of the Ridge Pike Improvement project is Pennoni Associates, Inc. Founded in 1966, Pennoni is a multidisciplinary firm that include civil, site, construction services, environmental, geotechnical, landscape architecture and planning, structural, survey, transportation, and water resources services. For more information, visit https://www.pennoni.com.
The Problems
- Roadway and drainage in poor condition
- Confusing access to I-476
- Many turning movements between intersections
- Congestion and weaving traffic
- Lack of sidewalks and bus stops
The Solutions
- Full reconstruction of the roadway
- Widen roadway to create a center left turn lane
- Signalize Industrial Way
- Add sidewalks and bus stops
- Reconfigure I-476 Interchange; remove jughandle at Alan Wood Road
Project Status
Section B has awarded the construction management contract to Hill International and the construction inspection contract to Traffic Planning & Design. The county is preparing to let the project for construction advertisement shortly. Right of way acquisition is complete. Construction is estimated to begin in 2023 and take two years.
Public Involvement
Montgomery County staff from the Planning Commission and Roads & Bridges departments held the first public event during the design phase of Section B. Preliminary plans were displayed at a Public Meeting held on April 30, 2013, this event allowed for the public to ask questions and make comments about the proposed improvements. The County will also hold an open house prior to the anticipated start of the construction phase in 2023.
For questions or comments about the Ridge Pike Improvement Project, please contact Laureen Sendel-Grant at 610-278-3734.