FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
June 27, 2008                   
Engineering District 6
                                                                       
7000 Geerdes Boulevard
King  of Prussia, PA  19406
PR 150
 CONTACT:    Gene Blaum
Assistant Press Secretary
(610) 205-6800

CREWS TO PLACE GRANITE BLOCK PAVERS on CLOSED SECTION OF GERMANTOWN AVENUE IN PHILADELPHIA
 
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – Construction crews are scheduled to begin placing granite block pavers next week along the sides of the closed portion of Germantown Avenue from the south end of the Trolley Car Diner to just north of McPherson Street in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said today.  This work is part of PennDOT’s $17 million project to reconstruct the 3,000-foot long stretch of Germantown Avenue between Allens Lane and Mermaid Lane. 
 Crews will work tomorrow (June 28) from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to continue road work and the installation of inlets at the intersection of Roumfort Road.
On Monday through Thursday (June 30-July 3), the contractor will install granite block pavers on the sides of the avenue within the current road closure area.  Crews also will continue to install sidewalks and granite curbs in the area of Roumfort Road.  In addition, they will continue to work nights at the intersection of Gowen Avenue to complete the installation of new sewer mains.  This work will result in closures of Gowen Avenue at Germantown Avenue on Monday through Wednesday (June 30-July 2) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.   Access to Gowen Avenue will be by way of Stenton Avenue. 
PECO crews will continue to install new conduits on the east side of Germantown Avenue at Gowen Avenue, an operation that will result in lane shifts and sidewalk closures.
No construction will occur from July 4 to July 6 in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
PennDOT’s contractor is currently rebuilding a 450-foot long section of the avenue.  During this time, Germantown Avenue through traffic is detoured over Willow Grove Avenue, Stenton Avenue and Mount Airy Avenue.  Access to Roumfort Road is by way of Boyer Street.  Vehicular traffic can reach the Trolley Car Diner and the New Covenant Church Campus from Cresheim Valley Drive while pedestrian access is maintained on the west side of the avenue through the current road closure.
Businesses within the Germantown Avenue project corridor are open and accessible during construction, including those immediately adjacent to the closed section: Trolley Car Diner; stores in the Chestnut Hill Plaza; New Covenant Church campus; Cresheim Cottage; and Brewers Outlet.
Block-by-block closures of Germantown Avenue will be in effect through mid-December as crews rebuild and aesthetically improve this deteriorated section of the avenue and make it compatible with other reconstructed sections.  Within the closed part of the avenue, PennDOT’s contractor is installing new granite curb and eight-foot wide granite block shoulders; installing a new concrete pavement with new trolley tracks between the granite block shoulders; building new sidewalks; and installing new street lights and trees. Crews also made major structural repairs to the stone arch bridge carrying Germantown Avenue over Cresheim Valley Creek.
Construction on Germantown Avenue began in September 2007 with the installation of new underground gas, water and sewer lines.  Crews continue to install new utilities under the avenue while keeping one travel lane open in each direction outside the road closure area.   Parking along the avenue is restricted in areas where crews are working. 
The contractor’s work schedule is dependent on the weather. 
C. Abbonizio Contractors, Inc. of Sewell, N.J. is the general contractor on the $17,036,685 project that is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds.