Current Penn Medicine traffic alerts
All of the following items have the potential to create traffic, congestion, or parking shortages.
If you have questions about these alerts, call us at 800-789-7366 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, or visit this page for updates.
Medical Drive closure near Penn Presbyterian
A large proton therapy expansion project at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is affecting traffic near the hospital. To support the project, Medical Drive will be closed until further notice. Patients and visitors should use the Filbert Street detour to access the Main Hospital entrance and Visitor Parking Garage.
During construction, SEPTA’s LUCY Gold Route and LUCY Green Route will have temporary stops at 38th and Filbert streets. Visit SEPTA’s LUCY Gold Route and LUCY Green Route pages for schedules and more information.
The multi-year proton therapy expansion project includes the demolition of the Medical Office Building, realignment of Medical Drive, and new building construction.
Penn Relays to cause traffic in University City on April 21-25
Penn Relays events are scheduled to take place at Franklin Field and will happen Tuesday, April 21, and Thursday, April 23 to Saturday, April 25. Expect heavy traffic volume and delays in the West Philadelphia and University City areas.
Consider using public transit to get to your appointment. If you are driving, please plan to arrive in the area up to 1 hour early to navigate traffic.
Penn Relays transportation and parking
Based on past traffic volume related to the Relays, it is expected that it will be challenging to travel in and around the University City area on the following dates and times:
- Tuesday, April 21, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Thursday, April 23, all day
- Friday, April 24, all day
- Saturday, April 25, all day
The following information is meant to help Penn Medicine patients navigate through heavy traffic caused by the Relays:
- Valet parking at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, The Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs, and the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine will be restricted to patients and families. Vehicles will be screened by security staff to ensure that enough parking exists for patients and families. Parking in the Perelman Center and 3600 Civic Center Blvd. garages will also be limited to patients.
- Patients with scheduled appointments at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, The Clifton Center, and the Perelman Center may experience some inconvenience as traffic could potentially be restricted and/or redirected by police to help reduce traffic volume on April 23-25. These three days will draw the heaviest attendance; however, congested/gridlocked traffic conditions may exist at various times.
Directions and alternate routes
For driving directions and alternative routes — including public transportation — visit:
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- The Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs
- Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
- Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
- Penn Medicine University City
Perelman Center construction project
To help alleviate traffic and improve the overall patient experience, the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine will begin construction in March 2026. The project is expected to last about 1 year.
The work will be done in phases to help minimize the impact to patients during the construction period.
From March 10 to April 14, 2026, construction will be done on the island within the Perelman Center driveway. This will not impact the amount of space on the driveway or sidewalks. Traffic due to this phase of the project is expected to be minimal.
We will keep this page up to date with the latest information to help you prepare for your visit.