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.
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