95 Is a Total Shit Show
So not surprisingly 95 is a total shit show this morning. The delay is in fact due to the convention, but not just because of volume– PennDOT is literally weighing every single truck passing by the Wells Fargo Center (!!!). Anna Orso of Billy Penn explains:
To make matters worse, PennDOT instituted a new traffic pattern in the area cutting the number of lanes from four to three. This was put into place over the weekend because, despite 100 signs throughout the region, so many truck drivers had violated the weight ban that an entire lane is being dedicated to re-route them off of I-95.
If they’re over the five ton weight limit, if the trucks are coming South, they’re being rerouted west on the Vine Street Expressway, then to eastbound 76, to 26th Street, to the intersection at Penrose Avenue, then over the Platt bridge onto 95 South. Northbound travelers are re-routed the same way, but backwards.
Gah!
Apparently officials won’t acknowledge it, but I’m guessing the reason has something to do with the fact that a five-ton truck filled with a bomb could do some damage to the Wells Faro Center from 95. Anything less? Eh, maybe you lose CSN headquarters and some of the BOB crew*, but the luminaries inside the arena bowl – including the President, Vice President, likely next President, and countless media members – would be just fine.
If that is the reason (and I can’t think of another one), it makes you wonder what sort of damage could be done by a (smaller) truck to a filled Lincoln Financial Field, which sits much closer to 95.
*I’m kidding!