Philly Area Rush Hour Traffic Guide (Norristown, King of Prussia: construction, place to live, airport)

[JerzBoy]

Given all the recent posts asking about traffic in the area, I've decided to list all of the main roads that face heavy congestion on a daily basis.

Pennsylvania Roads
I-76 (Schuykill Expressway) - usually jammed both directions in both the AM and PM commutes from Center City all the way out to King of Prussia

I-95 - southbound traffic in AM - northbound in PM - usually from Center City to Academy Road

I-476 (Blue Route) - nb traffic in AM - sb in PM - usually from Rt 30 to Rt 1
I-476 (north of Schuykill) - sb in AM - from 276 to 76 - not sure about PM

I-276 (PA Turnpike) - wb traffic in AM - eb in PM - usually from Willow Grove to I-476 or 76.

US-422 - eb traffic in AM - wb in PM - usually from Oaks/Egypt Rd to 76.

US-202 - nb/eb traffic in AM - sb/wb traffic in PM - especially heavy around Route 30 interchange and Rt 29.


New Jersey Roads
Route 42 - nb traffic in AM - sb in PM - usually from Blackwood area to Route 130/676 exits.

Route 55 - nb traffic AM only - from Deptford to 42

I-295 - nb traffic in AM - sb in PM - usually from 42 to Route 70 (PM is much worse)

Route 70 - wb traffic in AM - eb in PM - usually from Haddonfield Rd to 295 and again at Route 73 intersection.

Route 73 - heavy congestion in area of NJ Turnpike and I-295 and again at intersection w/ Route 70.


Hope this helps all with traffic questions.

[vizanje]

Hey.... Thanks!! This is really relevant info for us moving to the area. Finding a great place to live.. but not being able to get to work doesn't really help!!!

Originally Posted by JerzBoy

Given all the recent posts asking about traffic in the area, I've decided to list all of the main roads that face heavy congestion on a daily basis.

Pennsylvania Roads
I-76 (Schuykill Expressway) - usually jammed both directions in both the AM and PM commutes from Center City all the way out to King of Prussia

I-95 - southbound traffic in AM - northbound in PM - usually from Center City to Academy Road

I-476 (Blue Route) - nb traffic in AM - sb in PM - usually from Rt 30 to Rt 1
I-476 (north of Schuykill) - sb in AM - from 276 to 76 - not sure about PM

I-276 (PA Turnpike) - wb traffic in AM - eb in PM - usually from Willow Grove to I-476 or 76.

US-422 - eb traffic in AM - wb in PM - usually from Oaks/Egypt Rd to 76.

US-202 - nb/eb traffic in AM - sb/wb traffic in PM - especially heavy around Route 30 interchange and Rt 29.


New Jersey Roads
Route 42 - nb traffic in AM - sb in PM - usually from Blackwood area to Route 130/676 exits.

Route 55 - nb traffic AM only - from Deptford to 42

I-295 - nb traffic in AM - sb in PM - usually from 42 to Route 70 (PM is much worse)

Route 70 - wb traffic in AM - eb in PM - usually from Haddonfield Rd to 295 and again at Route 73 intersection.

Route 73 - heavy congestion in area of NJ Turnpike and I-295 and again at intersection w/ Route 70.


Hope this helps all with traffic questions.

[Duderino]

Great idea, JerzBoy. Is there any way for the moderator to add posts like this as a "sticky?"

[vizanje]

Is there any way to put in non-rush hour drive times, and of course those wonderful rush hour times. I have driven around Philly on weekends and non-rush hour, but last week was shocked to see 476? ( Schuykill?) into the city backed up at noon all the way out past Conshy...it was scary. I know people have warned about 95 sb from the Northeast being a parking lot. Any other hot spots? Is it bad from Media and the south/southwest into the city?
thanks

[JerzBoy]

I don't think Media into Philly would be a bad commute. I would just take 476 south to 95 north. However, i'm not as familiar with that area during rush hour so maybe someone else can chime in. I've driven to the airport from the north a number of times and 95nb seemed to be free flowing during the am rush so i assume its ok.

As far as the Schuykill Expressway (76) goes, that can be backed up at any time of the day (and usually is). I've been in traffic jams at 2AM on that road. A 2-lane freeway just cannot handle the massive amounts of volume and the very poorly designed exits and entrances. Most of the other area highways are fine during non-peak times unless there's an accident or construction.

[RaleighBoundGeek]

So - the "cliff notes" version is - don't go anywhere between 7 and 9am, and between 4:30 and 6pm?

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by vizanje

Is there any way to put in non-rush hour drive times, and of course those wonderful rush hour times. I have driven around Philly on weekends and non-rush hour, but last week was shocked to see 476? ( Schuykill?) into the city backed up at noon all the way out past Conshy...it was scary.

Traffic around here is a never-ending crap shoot. One accident or broken down car or ill-timed construction crew or baseball game can screw things up for hours, and on multiple highways (such as they are).

On the other hand, there have been occasions -- miraculous though they do seem -- when I've made it from Center City to Norristown in 25 minutes. You just never know.

[vizanje]

Originally Posted by RaleighBoundGeek

So - the "cliff notes" version is - don't go anywhere between 7 and 9am, and between 4:30 and 6pm?

My wife has been investigating various areas to commute from in and around the city, at around 7am, and she says the roads are actually relatively free from traffic...now 7:30am seems another story. It seems the early bird can beat the traffic....of course an accident ends all the optimism..

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by vizanje

My wife has been investigating various areas to commute from in and around the city, at around 7am, and she says the roads are actually relatively free from traffic...now 7:30am seems another story. It seems the early bird can beat the traffic....of course an accident ends all the optimism..

Indeed. With accidents, all bets are off. If there's one thing that people unanimously complain about in the Philly area, it's that the infrastructure is lacking in terms of car capacity. If only we could FINALLY get state funding for regional rail expansion -- a project that has been delayed for more than a decade -- traffic wouldn't be nearly as bad.

[newmarlig]

Originally Posted by RaleighBoundGeek

So - the "cliff notes" version is - don't go anywhere between 7 and 9am, and between 4:30 and 6pm?

Or live in center city like I do and walk to work.