PennDOT To Remove, Replace Seven Bridges Over Vine Street Expressway
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- PennDOT has big plans to remove and replace seven bridges that cross the busy Vine Street Expressway during a 4 1/2 year period, beginning in February.
PennDOT's Gene Blaum says the project has been divided up into four phases.
"The first phase of the construction will be the replacement of the 19th Street bridge over Interstate 676, and that will require the closing of 19th Street," Blaum says. "And that bridge will be under construction and it will be re-opening by Aug. 31."
That's because of the planned World Meeting of Families in September in Philadelphia.
He says crews will resume work in October, expanding their focus to the replacing pedestrian walkways at family court, at the Free Library and to also bridge that carries 20th Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway over the expressway.
All that finishes in the summer of 2017 when Blaum says the next phase kicks in.
"Phase 2 will replace the bridges on 22nd Street, 21st Street and 18th Street," Blaum says.
He says drivers will experience delays and some night-time closures of Vine Street at various steps along the way.
Blaum says PennDOT expects the work to be completed by the fall of 2019.