Construction will begin Tuesday on a $33.5 million, two-year rehabilitation of Philadelphia's Passyunk Avenue Drawbridge, which connects the South and Southwest sections of the city.
The drawbridge, which was built in 1983, will undergo a number of mechanical and structural enhancements as part of the multi-million-dollar project, as well as updates to its motors, brakes, traffic controls and electrical power. Cosmetic updates are also a part of the project, and commuters can expect to see newly painted steel, replaced concrete, repaired pedestrian railings and improved drainage systems, according to PennDOT.
The construction will mean closures of some lanes on the drawbridge, which runs between 28th Street and 61st Street. Between Tuesday and Friday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., the eastbound and westbound right lanes will be shut down as crews work to repair drainage pipes, PennDOT said. On Monday, April 4, travel will be restricted to outer lanes of the bridge while crews work on center crossover lanes.
As construction continues through mid-June, the bridge is expected to be restricted to two lanes in each direction. After that, PennDOT said, commuters should expect the bridge to be down to two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane. The bridge currently holds three lanes in each direction.
After construction, the bridge will have only two lanes in each direction, plus two sidewalks and two 13-foot shoulders. The reduction in lanes, according to PennDOT, is a result of a "joint study with the City of Philadelphia, which determined that two travel lanes in each direction on the drawbridge would be more consistent with the Passyunk Avenue corridor."
PennDOT said that on an average day, 20,800 vehicles cross the drawbridge, which is 2,240 feet long and 92 feet wide. Drivers can check 511pa.com for traffic updates during construction.
