Saturday, January 26, 2008

Germantown Av Construction - 1/26-2/2/08

Construction is under way, with closure from the intersection of Germantown Avenue and Cresheim Valley Drive south to near the Trolley Car Diner. This phase will last about 6 more weeks The Diner and New Covenant Campus are accessible from the south; vehicle and bus traffic is detoured.

WORK OUTSIDE CLOSURE
While most of the work is taking place within the closure, there is some work which is taking place outside the closure:
1) The gas company will be connecting houses on Germantown Avenue between Gowen and McPherson to the new gas lines -- neighbors will be notified directly, with notices in front doors.
2) The large sewer pipes which have been lying on the eastern side of Germantown Avenue will be installed. Minimal impact on motorists.
3) Conduits will be laid on the eastern sidewalk or shoulder from Gowen north, beginning in mid-February and lasting for about 10 weeks. They will be barricaded off, but this will result in a narrower sidewalk.

PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
At the moment, the western sidewalk is open through the closure area -- please proceed carefully if you use this sidewalk. However, in about a week this access will be closed off, as the bridge over Cresheim Creek will be taken down below the roadway level and will be impassible. This means there will be no safe way to traverse the section between Cresheim Valley Drive and McPherson/Roumfort by foot. Pedestrians are urged to take the Route 23 bus during this time. We are looking at ways to make pedestrian access possible during the other closures.

TRAFFIC DETOUR:
The official detour is from Mt. Airy Avenue to Stenton to Cresheim Valley Road. While savvy motorists know that there are other options (see www.Ltsp.edu/germantownave for suggested alternate routes), everyone is urged to turn off Germantown Avenue at Gowen coming north, unless you are going to one of the homes or businesses between Gowen and the closure. Residents of the small streets on the east side -- McPherson, Roumfort, Devon, etc., are experiencing significant additional traffic, and motorists are frustrated because the one-way streets are laid out in such a way that it makes if difficult to get back to Gowen. Better to take Gowen in the first place. PennDOT is working to make signage clearer

ROUTE 23 DETOUR:
Many bus riders are experiencing frustration with long waits for shuttle service at the SEPTA depot at Germantown Avenue and Westview Street. SEPTA has asked for riders' patience for another week as they work out the "bugs" in this new schedule.

When Germantown Avenue is closed, buses will be detoured onto East Mt. Airy Avenue up to Stenton and back to Willow Grove Avenue. In addition, beginning February 10th there will be shuttles running north from the SEPTA depot at Germantown Avenue and Westview Streets. SEPTA will endeavor to maintain its regular schedule despite the detour. Shuttles will run Monday--Friday until 8 pm: they will not run on weekends and holidays.

Buses coming from the south carrying students to schools on New Covenant Campus will come as far as Gowen to drop the children off during this part of the closure.

SAVE THE AVENUE COALITION
All businesses on Germantown Avenue are open and ready to serve you! Note, for instance, that the Trolley Car Diner has added takeout deli that’s a short walk from campus. Remember to visit www.SaveTheAve.org for more information regarding the project and its impact on businesses in Mt. Airy.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Germantown Av Construction - 1/18-1/27 - closures begin

The first closure of sections of Germantown Avenue will take place as rescheduled on January 21st. This closure will be between the rail overpass near Cresheim Valley Drive and Trolley Car Diner (north of campus). The southernmost two of the Diner's three driveways will be open. Likewise, the entrance to New Covenant Campus will remain open during this phase. Traffic will be detoured onto Cresheim Valley to Stenton to East Mt. Airy Avenue. However, Gowen Avenue and Cresheim Valley Drive will be open for this part of the closure, which is scheduled to last for 49 days.

Please refer to this map: wman.net/germantownave14B.pdf, for more information about the planned closures. You will find directions and suggested alternate routes to campus at www.Ltsp.edu/germantownave.

As noted above, the first closure is scheduled to last 49 days: as we get further into the project, we will post dates for the other closures.

NIGHT WORK: Friday, 1/18, there will be work on the east side of Germantown near the intersection of Nippon Street. It is possible that water access will affect neighbors and businesses from Mt. Airy to Mt. Pleasant on the east side. These people are being informed directly. The work might extend through part of Saturday morning (1/19).

DAY WORK: There will be work this weekend (1/19-1/20) in front of Cresheim Cottage Cafe at Gowen, and the Lutheran Seminary between Gowen and Allens Lane, resulting in lane shifts. In addition, there will be ongoing work outside the closure area starting 1/21, along Cresheim Valley Drive and also between McPherson and Gowen.

ROUTE 23 DETOUR: When Germantown Avenue is closed, buses will be detoured onto East Mt. Airy Avenue up to Stenton and back to Willow Grove Avenue. In addition, beginning February 10th there will be shuttles running north from the SEPTA depot at Germantown Avenue and Westview Streets. SEPTA will endeavor to maintain its regular schedule despite the detour. Shuttles will run Monday--Friday until 8 pm; they will not run on weekends and holidays. Buses coming from the south carrying students to schools on New Covenant Campus will come as far as Gowen to drop the children off during this part of the closure.

SAVE THE AVENUE COALITION: Remember to visit www.savetheave.org for more information regarding the project and its impact on businesses in Mt. Airy, and to support the businesses in the area to help keep Mt. Airy lively and viable for us all.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Germantown Av. update - 1/11-1/20

Important Note: PennDOT is pushing the next phase of construction back to Monday, January 21. This means there will be NO closure of the avenue the week of January 14.

This week:

NIGHT WORK: Friday night, 1/11, work was scheduled in front of Cresheim Cottage Cafe.

DAY WORK: Until the closure, work will continue all along the project area, as it has for the last few weeks. This includes some lane closures, flagging, etc.

CLOSURE OF GERMANTOWN AVENUE:
The first closure of sections of Germantown Avenue has been postponed until January 21. This closure will be between the rail overpass near Cresheim Valley Drive and Trolley Car Diner. The southernmost two of the Diner's three driveways will be open. Likewise, the entrance to New Covenant Campus will remain open during this phase.

Traffic will be detoured onto Cresheim Valley to Stenton to East Mt. Airy Avenue. However, Gowen Avenue and Cresheim Valley Drive will be open for this part of the closure, which is scheduled to last for 49 days.

ROUTE 23 DETOUR:
When Germantown Avenue is closed, buses will be detoured onto East Mt. Airy Avenue up to Stenton and back to Willow Grove Avenue. In addition, there will be shuttles running north from the SEPTA depot at Germantown Avenue and Westview Streets. SEPTA will endeavor to maintain its regular schedule despite the detour. Shuttles will run Monday--Friday until 8 pm: they will not run on weekends and holidays.

The closest 23 bus stop to campus will be at the intersection of Germantown and Mt. Airy Aves.

Buses coming from the south carrying students to schools on New Covenant Campus will come as far as Gowen to drop the children off during this part of the closure.

Plan alternate routes to campus to avoid the immediate Germantown Ave. area as much as possible, and remember that SEPTA R7 and R8 regional rail stops are within blocks of the campus. For alternate route suggestions and more information, see www.Ltsp.edu/germantownave.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Germantown Av. Construction Through Jan. 11

Work continues around campus in preparation for the major Germantown Avenue construction set to begin Monday, Jan. 14. Here's the latest from PennDOT via WMAN:

NIGHT WORK:
Tie-ins of water mains will be done during the night hours from 9:30 pm until 6 am through the week. Friday night the work was to be between McPherson and Gowen, and next week throughout the project.

Residential neighbors on Germantown Avenue, Roumfort and McPherson Streets: notices of water and other utility cut-offs will be through a note at your front door. Please check your front door and ask your neighbors to do the same. This work will not effect the seminary campus or on-campus residents.

DAY WORK:
Utility work will continue the length of the project until it is complete. This will result in intermittent sidewalk and shoulder closures, similar to what we have experienced over the last few weeks.

CLOSURE OF GERMANTOWN AVENUE:
The planned closure of sections of Germantown Avenue is scheduled to begin January 14th, between the rail overpass near Cresheim Valley Drive and Trolley Car Diner. The Diner will be open and accessible throughout this construction, and two of the Diner's three driveways will be open. The entire roadbed of Germantown Avenue will be reconstructed in sections, the trolley tracks replaced, and concrete and Belgian block will be restored. This will result in a series of detours beginning with this section. Traffic will be detoured onto Cresheim Valley to Stenton to East Mt. Airy Avenue. However, Gowen Avenue and Cresheim Valley Drive will be open for this part of the closure, which is scheduled to last for 49 days. The closures will not begin until the above-referenced utility work is completed, so the schedule may change somewhat. We will update you as information becomes available.

ROUTE 23 DETOUR:
When Germantown Avenue is closed, buses will be detoured onto East Mt. Airy Avenue up to Stenton and back to Willow Grove Avenue. In addition, beginning February 10th there will be shuttles running north from the SEPTA depot at Germantown Avenue and Westview Streets. SEPTA will endeavor to maintain its regular schedule despite the detour. Shuttles will run Monday--Friday until 8 pm: they will not run on weekends and holidays.

Buses coming from the south carrying students to schools on New Covenant Campus will come as far as Gowen to drop the children off during this part of the closure, so be aware of buses at times on Gowen, especially when turning into or out of the Reed lot or if you park on Gowen.

You can find alternate routes to campus on the LTSP Web: www.Ltsp.edu/germantownave. Be sure to allow extra time when coming to campus, especially as everyone adjusts to new traffic patterns and detours.