Authorities 'Considering' Closing Ben Franklin Bridge To Auto Traffic Weekend Of Pope's Visit
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Pope's September visit will mean express commuter trains, blocked streets, and maybe -- just maybe -- closing the Ben Franklin Bridge to auto traffic.
No decisions have been made yet, but one of the options authorities are considering is keeping cars and trucks off of the Ben Franklin Bridge for the weekend of the Pope's visit. Delaware River Port Authority CEO John Hanson says right now, it's not clear what the final determination will be:
"We're coordinating with national, regional, local security groups as well as the different transportation agencies that are involved in the roadways and the public transit systems."
Hanson says the decision process is still evolving:
"It is one of several scenarios that have been presented. So we're not really sure how that's going to come out just yet."
He adds the goal is to devise a plan to safely and efficiently move people to and from the Papal events.