Vine Street Expressway in Philly reopened in both directions

The Vine Street Expressway, the major highway through Center City, has reopened in both directions two days after extraordinary flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida rendered the heavily used road impassable, PennDot announced Saturday evening.

Some ramp and lane closures will remain for several days to weeks, PennDot warned, to accommodate necessary repairs and, in one location, through the weekend because of the Made In America festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Motorists should expect a right-lane closure round the clock for several weeks on westbound I-676, as the highway is formally known, from 18th Street to just past 22nd Street for pump station repair, PennDot said. And the ramp from 24th Street to eastbound I-676 will remain closed for several days for repair.

The closures necessitated by Made In America are those to and from westbound I-676 to 22nd Street. They will remain in effect through Sunday, the last day of the two-day concert, PennDot said.

Overnight Friday into Saturday, PennDot crews finished pumping water off the road, and throughout Saturday were clearing debris and sediment, which was especially heavy on the westbound side, PennDot spokesperson Brad Rudolph said. It was the last side to open Saturday.

Drivers coming into the city for the Made In America music festival on I-76 from the west are advised to exit at Spring Garden Street or earlier, Rudolph said. People coming from the other direction can exit at 30th Street.

Getting to the concert from I-95 is easier because drivers from that highway can take I-676 and exit at Broad Street, close to the festivities.

Kelly Drive also remained closed Saturday, PennDot said.

Service on SEPTA’s Manayunk/Norristown and Cynwyd Regional Rail lines remained suspended but was expected to resume Tuesday on a limited basis.