Inga Saffron: Deep six for I-95 by Penn's Landing?

June 28

 

 

Inquirer Architecture critic Inga Saffron on our own I-95 and Boston's Big Dig

 

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by Michael diPilla (not verified) | July 6, 2009 - 9:59am

Great Idea a dig in Philadelphia.

Our Waterfront has great potential for business and redevelopment. It will also help to link the Waterfront with the Historic District.

It was done in the early 1980s in Baltimore and has been a great success.

by Michael Kovach (not verified) | July 6, 2009 - 12:59am

The Center City portion of I-95 should definitely be buried first.

The second section of highway we should bury is at the airport where 95 prevents improvement to the region's aviation gateway. Sinking that piece makes a runway, a new terminal or both possible. On-time flights and a gateway to be proud of will require both.

Eventually, more of piecesI-95 might be buried as sections need to be rebuilt. We could use the Center City piece and the airport piece as book ends of a much bigger vision.

I wish Rina Cutler, the Mayor's transportation specialist, was more inclined to "think big" rather than what can't be done.

by damnels (not verified) | July 3, 2009 - 10:29am
One more thing...San Francisco later added a trolley line along Embarcadero Street from North Beach/Embarcadero Center/downtown south to the baseball stadium and CalTran station. Very smart.
by Lorraine Gaston (not verified) | July 3, 2009 - 7:38am
As a resident of Penn's Landing, I would be ecstatic to see 95 buried. By doing so, the waterfront would not be divided from the rest of town. I also think that tourism dollars would flow more easily. Other cities have been successful in making their waterfronts viable. It's time for this city to do so, as well.
by Dan (not verified) | July 2, 2009 - 9:55pm
I think the chances of closing I-95 south of the Ben Franklin Bridge is close to nil. I don't see why we should spend 2-4 billion dollars to make it slightly easier for residents of Old City and Society Hill to get to the waterfront. Why make such a large investment in such a small area of the waterfront. Spread the money around. Residents of South Philly, the river wards and the Northeast would rather see 2-4 billion dollars spent on building a beautiful waterfront park that stretches from the Walt Whitman bridge to Buck's county. I live in Fishtown and while it would be nice not to see I-95, it doesn't cut us off from the riverfront in any significant way. It is not much of a hardship to walk under an overpass.
by Margaret E Ullman (not verified) | July 2, 2009 - 9:19pm
DIG Baby DIG!
by DanaW | July 2, 2009 - 5:42pm
I'm sure that Boston's "Big Dig" and the issues/problems they had would scare a lot of people. However, now that it's done, no one is complaining. No matter what option is used, traffic will be a mess; something we'll all manage to live with/adapt to (and complain about). Compared to the long-term benefits and economic boon unification of the city and the waterfront would provide to the city it seems a worthwhile and relatively short-term inconvenience.
by Anthony A.P. Stuempfig (not verified) | July 2, 2009 - 4:15pm
Putting I95 underground and putting parks above would be a wonderful a beautiful addition to the waterfront both visually and for the pleasure of Philadelphia's residents. I95 is an eyesore and cuts the city off from the river.
by steve richter (not verified) | July 2, 2009 - 3:44pm
I-95 is a blight on our city, remove it from 676 to 76, ben franklin to walt whitman. thru traffic is on the NJ side, and other traffic could use a widened and more traffic friendly Colum. blvd. Best would be a mini big dig, but that is unlikely, so it is time to make PHL more people, mass transit, and bike friendly and not let the auto make or impact all our decisions. I live in the shadow of I95 and have seen first hand how it divides our neighborhood from the river and penns landing. Tome 4 it 2 GO.
by damnels (not verified) | July 3, 2009 - 10:24am
San Francisco tore down the eyesore freeway along the bay and nobody missed it. North Beach, Chinatown, Embarcadero, and downtown pedestrians can walk across the street to the bay front. Joggers, bikers, walkers, fisherman, kiteflyers, scateboarders, and tourists can enjoy the bay views. Philly should just tear down I-95 and replace it with a street. Forget expensive big digs. Just follow San Francisco's lead. Mayor Nutter tear down this wall!
by Guest55 (not verified) | July 2, 2009 - 6:52pm
Columbus Boulevard is insane on the weekends and regularly backs up onto 95 Southbound. How is removing 95 going to alleviate the current traffic problem? To say there is no through/commuter traffic on the 'PA side' (95 S from Ben to 76) is patently false. I would advocate extending the city grid on top of the sunken section; maintain the infrastructure, bring people closer to the water, grow the tax base.