Project Overview
Background
Ridge Pike is a heavily used, critical arterial that links the Montgomery County Seat in Norristown with northwest Philadelphia dating back to the Colonial Era. Much of the Ridge Pike infrastructure dates to the early and mid-20th Century: It was first paved in the 1930s and last widened and updated in the 1970s. It is in need of a 21st Century makeover.
To that end, Montgomery County — owner of Ridge Pike and taking the lead role in a partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) PennDOT, and Plymouth Township — is currently in the midst of a four-stage investment in Ridge Pike’s future by updating and significantly improving motorist and pedestrian safety along the five-mile Norristown-to-Philadelphia corridor.
The 21st Century Investment
The Ridge Pike Improvement Project will completely reconstruct the roadway; improve stormwater drainage; relocate subsurface and aerial utilities; create a center turn lane and add turn lanes to select intersections; upgrade traffic signals; construct sidewalks; and improve access to and from Interstate 476.
Sector B, situated between the bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Belvoir Road and Chemical Road in Plymouth Township, is the most heavily traveled section of Ridge Pike, carrying approximately 30,000 vehicles per day.
This combination of high traffic volumes and busy commercial driveways, along with the absence of a dedicated left turn lane, creates a far-from-ideal situation where four lanes of vehicles — two eastbound, two westbound — weave in and out of travel lanes to avoid turning vehicles while vehicles leaving the auto dealerships and other commercial entities fronting the highway compete for the ever-closing gaps in traffic.
In addition, many of the businesses along the corridor have employees who rely on public transit to get to and from work. The lack of sidewalks and protected pedestrian crossings make pedestrian travel along Ridge Pike difficult at best.
Problems & Solutions
To address these problems:
- Roadway and drainage in poor condition
- Confusing access to/from I-476
- Numerous turning movements between intersections
- Congestion and weaving traffic
- Lack of sidewalks and bus stops
We will:
- Fully reconstruct the roadway
- Widen the roadway to create a center-left turn lane
- Signalize Industrial Way
- Add sidewalks and bus stops
- Reconfigure I-476 Interchange with signalized intersections with ramps
- Replace the westbound jughandle at Alan Wood Road with double left turn lanes
Project Status
Utility work began in spring 2023, including the relocation of utility poles away from the roadway.
Read the current Construction Update.
Visit the Schedule page to view the project's phasing schedule.
Public Involvement
Montgomery County staff from the Planning Commission and Roads & Bridges departments held the first public event during the design phase of Section B. Preliminary plans were displayed at a Public Meeting held on April 30, 2013, this event allowed the public to ask questions and make comments about the proposed improvements. The County held a public open house meeting on September 7, 2023.
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For questions or comments about the Ridge Pike Improvement Project, email us at info@belvoirtochemical.com.