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Papal Visit: Highways Closed, National Guard Requested

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Tom Sofield
Pope Francis in 2014 Credit: Wikimedia
Pope Francis in 2014
Credit: Wikimedia

On Wednesday, officials from several government agencies announced road closures and other details about Pope Francis’ planned visit to the Philadelphia region in late September.

Aside from have a large “traffic box” in Center City, which will be an area where private vehicles can exit but can’t re-enter, several major highways will be closed beginning on Friday, September 25 at 10 p.m.:

  • I-76 eastbound from I-476 to I-95 and I-76 westbound from I-95 to U.S. Route 1 (Roosevelt Extension);
  • I-676 in both directions from I-76 to I-95;
  • Route 1 in both directions from U.S. 30 to Belmont Avenue; and
  • The Benjamin Franklin Bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic but pedestrians and emergency vehicles will be allowed.
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Many of the highways will remain closed until Monday, September 28.

Gov. Tom Wolf’s office and city officials said I-95 will remain open but several exits in the city will be closed.

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In addition to Philadelphia police and federal law enforcement, the Pennsylvania State Police will provide approximately 1,100 requested personnel to the city and an unspecified number of Pennsylvania National Guard members to assist with traffic management. First responders from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties are also expected to head into Philadelphia to assist during the papal visit.

“The men and women of the Pennsylvania National Guard – who are our friends, family members and neighbors – will primarily assist with traffic management. They will support law enforcement to keep visitors and residents safe and will play an important supportive role in making sure people can get to, through and from the event,” Wolf said in a statement.

Officials from the Pennsylvania Department of Health are expected to provide medical teams, ambulances and other equipment and supplies needed to meet public health coverage for the anticipated crowds of more than 1 million people.

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The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Philadelphia officials are working with emergency agencies in the counties surrounding city.

Due to large crowds expected at local SEPTA stations during the papal visit, Middletown and Tullytown have declared a State of Emergency.

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Tom Sofield

Tom Sofield

Tom Sofield has covered news in Bucks County for 16 years for both newspaper and online publications. Tom’s reporting has appeared locally, nationally, and internationally across several mediums. He is proud to report on news in the county where he lives and to have created a reliable publication that the community deserves.