Multi-million dollar plan aims to fix sports complex traffic woes in South Philadelphia

We know that traffic has long been the nemesis of sports fans heading to South Philadelphia to watch games in person. Many of us have been guilty of leaving games early in an attempt to beat the traffic or waiting in a long line of drivers just to get into the complex. Today, Governor Josh Shapiro and other city leaders announced they are working to change that. Action News reporter Maggie Kent live for us in South Philadelphia with details on this multi-million dollar plan, Maggie. Yeah, so leaders from all four major sports teams here at South Philadelphia Complex, the governor as well as PennDOT, they're calling this a real win both for them and for the fans who come to visit, the millions and millions of them which do every single year. Now, right now, if you want to get on 76 Westbound, let's say you're leaving a Phillies game. I'm standing in the stadium right now. You have to drive all the way up to Broad Street to get on the ramp there. And let me tell you, it is tense. It is packed. People get nasty. We know that. That's already after you have to wait about an hour to get out of the parking lot, right? Well, this new upgrade comes to 7th Street. You would travel down this way to 7th Street, and there's going to be a new Westbound 76 lane there. We just got a rendering of what this $15 million project will look like. They expect it to be completed by 2028, which is just in time for the new stadium to open in 2030 down here. And again, it's a lot of excitement for those people who just hate to sit until the end of a game and then wait for about an hour in traffic. We have chopper overhead as well. The issue with Paterson Avenue at Broad Street will be addressed with AI-timed traffic signals, hopefully timing up those red and green lights a little bit better. That costs $6.6 million, and all of this comes after the Front Street ramp to 95 was just reopened for more traffic, allowing for about 500 extra cars each hour to be able to get on the highway. All of this, hopefully a relief for both, obviously, sports team owners and presidents, but for fans, too. We are kick-starting multiple infrastructure projects that will tackle the biggest pain points, causing congestion for traffic moving through the complex to roadways like 76 and I-95. We're going to install new traffic signals and upgrade signs in the area to make it easier and safer for motorists, and to make sure that we make long-term improvements to keep up with traffic increasing over time. Yeah, they want fans to come. They want fans to stay. They want fans to have a good time until that buzzer beater or that final, you know, play. They want to have everybody enjoy and, of course, feel like this is a good opportunity for them to come down here, spend money, and enjoy. Chopper 6 is right overhead, as you can tell. We're having a good day out here in the ballpark, and hopefully this means a lot less congestion for people who decide to come down in this area. We're live at Citizens Bank Park. Maggie Kent, Channel 6 Action News. John? Stay and watch the ninth inning, you know. Watch Jermond Duran go out on the field. Yeah, exactly! Thanks, Maggie.