Germantown Ave. Project is Behind Schedule But Nearing Completion

by KYW's Lynne Adkins

A major Chestnut Hill intersection was to reopen by Thursday, but the project has been delayed about a week.

The intersection of Germantown Avenue and Cresheim Valley Drive closed on April 3rd (see previous story) and was to reopen by the end of this month. Every day, thousands of drivers have been finding other ways to get to and from Lincoln Drive.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman Gene Blaum says the contractors just needed a little more time:

"The granite curbing is in, the intersection has been been rebuilt, the trolley track structure is in place. Right now the remaining items are the contractors placing by hand the granite block pavers (cobblestones) on either side of the avenue, and the installation of the new traffic signal at the intersection is the last thing to be done."

Blaum says the intersection should reopen by next Friday.

This is part of a $17-million project to rebuild Germantown Avenue between Allens Lane and Mermaid Lane. Blaum says the weather during the past few months didn't help, and the entire project is several weeks behind schedule.