Pope Traffic and Transit: What You Need to Know for Saturday

This is not the Parkway that I know and love. | Photo by Bradley Maule

Follow Philadelphia magazine’s live coverage of Pope Francis’s historic visit all weekend long.

The major roads they said were going to be closed are closed: 

• Benjamin Franklin Bridge
• Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) eastbound from I-476 to I-95
• I-76 westbound from I-95 to US Route 1 (Roosevelt Blvd/City Ave)
• Vine Street Expressway (I-676) in both directions from I-95 to I-76
• City Avenue (US Route 1) in both directions from Belmont Avenue to Lancaster Avenue (US Route 30) because Pope Francis is staying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

Public Transit:

SEPTA is now running it’s special Papal Weekend Service Schedule. More on that here, here and at SEPTA’s home page which dedicated entirely to the Pope’s visit for the next two days.

6 a.m.: Metal detectors open at all secure perimeter entrances. Tickets will be required for entrance to the secure areas.

6 p.m.: The secure perimeter around Independence Mall ends, but the secure vehicle perimeter remains in effect.

Where the Pope will be:

The pope was delivered a mass at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul on the Parkway this morning (Philly Mag’s Tom McGrath and HughE Dillon were there). His next appearance is at 4:45 today at Independence Hall. Philly Mag’s Holly Otterbein will be there. Follow her coverage on Philly Mag’s Pope in Philly Live Blog.

Transportation Blackout Periods:

A note that while Pope Francis is within the secure perimeter (aka, while he’s in and moving within Center City), all other transportation within the perimeter will cease. The Secret Service and Philadelphia Police may expand, shrink or impose new blackouts at their discretion. The estimated blackout times are:

Saturday – 09/26: 9:45am – 12:30pm
Saturday – 09/26: 3:45pm – 5:30pm
Saturday – 09/26: 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Sunday – 09/27: 3:30pm – 7:00pm