More than four years at a cost of $64.8 million dollars.
That’s the cost of a planned construction project to replace seven structurally-deficient bridges over Center City Philadelphia’s Vine Street Expressway (Interstate 676) set to begin April 14.
PennDOT plans to replace the two-span structures along 22nd Street, 21st Street, Benjamin Franklin Parkway/20th Street, 19th Street, 18th Street, and the Free Library and Family Court pedestrian bridges over I-676 with single-span bridges, said PennDOT.
The construction is necessary to ensure safety along the roadway connecting the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) with I-95.
“We are eager to start this critical project to rebuild these aging bridges and enhance areas above the Vine Expressway in the Logan Square neighborhood,” said PennDOT’s acting district executive Christine Reilly.
Other items to be repaired or replaced include repaving the roadway, removal or supports from the median and aesthetic efforts.
PennDOT warned of early morning closures along I676 starting just after midnight through 5 a.m. each morning between Broad Street and I-76 in both directions next week. Timing of later closures weren’t immediately made clear but PennDOT said it hoped to minimize traffic troubles during the project.
PennDOT suggests using other roadways including the JFK Parkway, Vine Street and other surface streets to get around the closures.
After the closures next week, PennDOT plans to begin demolishing bridges starting with Family Court pedestrian Bridge on May 4.
The first phase of the project is expected to last until lately July 2017 – with the exception of the time period during the World Meeting of Families when all projects will be put on hold. Phase 1 includes replacing the Family Court and Free Library pedestrian bridges, plus the 19th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway/20th Street structures. Phase 2 – which is expected to last until the fall of 2019 – includes replacing the 22nd Street, 21st Street and 18th Street bridges.
The Family Court, 19th Street, 18th Street and Free Library bridges will be closed and detoured throughout the project while the other bridges will be rebuilt while being used, said PennDOT.
General contractor Philadelphia-based Buckley & Company, Inc. is working on the $64,836,180 project, which is being 100 percent financed through federal funds, said PennDOT.
Click here for more information about the project.
Photo Credit: PennDOT
