The eastbound ramps from the Schuylkill Expressway converge over the Schuylkill River to form the Vine Street Expressway. Posted at the crossing is the first eastbound reassurance shield. Photo taken 04/10/04
All exits along Interstate 676 are unnumbered within the state of Pennsylvania. Thus the first exit of Interstate 676 departs for 23rd Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at the end of the river crossing into the Fairmount Park vicinity. Ben Franklin Parkway constitutes a wide boulevard between Logan Square and Circle northwest to Spring Garden Street and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The ramp itself ends at 23rd Street, a northbound flowing avenue that links the freeway with the parkway to the north. Photos taken 04/10/04
24th Street stems southward from the confluence of Ben Franklin Parkway, River Drive, and Spring Garden Street in Fairmount Park to become an eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 676 & U.S. 30. The ramp merges onto the six-lane freeway ahead of the 22nd Street overpass. Photo taken 04/10/04
Upcoming exits overhead for the three ramps of the Vine Street Expressway between Interstate 76 and Interstate 95. Interests into downtown Philadelphia can use either 16th Street south, Pennsylvania 611 (Broad Street) south, or Eight Street south through Chinatown from Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 east. Photo taken 04/10/04
Attached to the next overpass along Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 east (21st Street) are a pair of overheads for the Broad and 15th Street off-ramp into downtown and an auxiliary sign for the downtown attractions of Independence Mall and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Photo taken 04/10/04
Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 depress below the city street grid at 17th Street. The right-hand two lanes become an exit-only affair for the Broad Street off-ramp to Pennsylvania 611. Traffic exiting ahead are provided with the option of turning southward onto 15th Street or eastward onto parallel Vine Street one block ahead of the Pennsylvania 611 (Broad Street). Photo taken 04/10/04
The ramp for Broad Street scoots underneath the Vine Street eastbound frontage street above at the 16th Street over crossing. Vine Street is split between frontage streets that follow each carriageway of Interstate 676 & U.S. 30. The Vine Street Expressway derives its name from the street that it overtook. Photo taken 04/10/04
Continuing along Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 eastbound at the 15th Street overpass. An upcoming exits sign is posted for the final two ramps of the Vine Street Expressway before it defaults onto Interstate 95 (Delaware Expressway). A ramp to 8th Street departs in one half mile for Chinatown and Market East. Photo taken 04/10/04
A return ramp from Vine Street eastbound ascends to join Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 eastbound at the 13th Street over crossing. In lieu of independent guide signs, a second upcoming exits sign advises motorists of the forthcoming 8th Street and Benjamin Franklin Bridge off-ramps of the expressway. Photo taken 04/10/04
The Vine Street eastbound on-ramp forms an exit-only lane for the 8th Street southbound off-ramp. Use 8th Street to access Market East, a commercial district located along Market Street, and the Chinatown, Old City, and Society Hill neighborhoods of central Philadelphia. Photo taken 04/10/04
The Vine Street Expressway climbs out of its canyon at 10th Street to split with Interstate 676 & U.S. 30. The 8th Street southbound and Benjamin Franklin Bridge eastbound ramps split in close proximity between the blocks of 10th and 8th Streets. All mainline traffic otherwise defaults onto Interstate 95 (Delaware Expressway). Photo taken 04/10/04
Eight Street bound motorists leave Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 eastbound as the Vine Street Expressway elevates onto a viaduct. Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 part ways with the expressway for a ramp onto Sixth Street southbound adjacent to Franklin Square. There is no toll for eastbound Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 travelers across the Delaware River. Photo taken 04/10/04
The Vine Street Expressway partitions into two lanes for Interstate 95 north and south and two lanes for Sixth Street south and Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 eastbound. The substandard connection between the freeway and nearby Benjamin Franklin Bridge leaves a gap between the Central Philadelphia Interstate 676 and the Camden, New Jersey Interstate 676. Nonetheless signs omit this fact and the roadway connecting the two limited access highways reflect Interstate 676. Photo taken 04/10/04
The final piece of the Vine Street Expressway to open to traffic entails the viaduct and tri-level stack interchange between the 8th and 6th Street ramps and Interstate 95. This elevated section of highway opened to traffic in 1991 and allows Delaware Expressway traffic direct access to/from downtown Philadelphia. Photo taken 04/10/04
Ramps from Seventh Street north and the Ben Franklin Bridge westbound merge onto the Vine Street Expressway as it passes over Sixth Street below. The Delaware Expressway represents a major freeway between Philadelphia International Airport, Chester, and Wilmington, Delaware to Northeast Philadelphia, Bristol, and Trenton, New Jersey. Photo taken 04/10/04
High speed ramps carry multiple lanes from the Vine Street Expressway eastbound onto Interstate 95. For the northbound ramp, Interstate 95 intersects its next interchange for Girard and Lehigh Avenues in 1.50 miles. Photo taken 04/10/04
Curving along the Interstate 95 southbound ramps, a fantastic view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River is afforded. The span is painted blue with red, white, and blue cables. Blue lights line the main cables of the suspension bridge during the evening hours. Photo taken 04/10/04
The on and off-ramps from the Vine Street Expressway to Interstate 95 south and from Interstate 95 north are lengthy and merge with the Delaware Expressway within the median of the six lane freeway. The southbound ramp merges onto the freeway ahead of Exit 20 for Columbus Boulevard and the Penns Landing area of the Delaware Riverfront. Photo taken 04/10/04
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 Eastbound
Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 eastbound departs 6th Street southbound onto the Ben Franklin Bridge. The six-lane span features a movable jersey barrier and variable speed limits as it ascends across the Delaware River between central Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey. Overheads placed on the bridge prepare motorists for the east end of the bridge and Interstate 676 partition with U.S. 30. Photos taken 09/19/04.
Views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge at midspan. Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 cross the New Jersey state line midway across the Delaware River. In addition to carrying vehicular traffic, the suspension bridge also carries two tracks of the PATCO Subway line and sidewalks between Philadelphia and Camden. The mass transit lines cross the bridge underneath the road deck. Photos taken 09/19/04.
Interstate 676 & U.S. 30 eastbound descend into Camden, New Jersey. The toll plaza for westbound travelers lies just east of the crossing, so eastbound traffic must slow to 20 mph to circumvent the barrier ahead of the Broadway and 6th Street off-ramp into downtown Camden. U.S. 30 (Admiral Wilson Boulevard) departs Interstate 676 east of there for U.S. 130 (Crescent Boulevard), New Jersey 38 (Kaighn Avenue), and New Jersey 70 (Marlton Pike). Photos taken 09/19/04.
