PennDOT held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month for the Penn Street Bridge Rehabilitation project in Berks County.
The bridge crosses the Schuylkill River, Norfolk Southern Railroad, Schuylkill River Trail and Front Street in the City of Reading and West Reading Borough.
"The Penn Street Bridge is a signature structure in Berks County, and a vital link between the communities of Reading and West Reading," PennDOT District 5 Executive Michael W. Rebert said. "The rehabilitation of this structure will ensure safe travel over the Schuylkill River for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists for decades to come."
The project rehabilitated the 27-span concrete arch bridge. Work included concrete repair, superstructure replacement, ramp work at the interchange of Penn Street and US 422/West Shore Bypass, ornamental lighting, traffic signal work, new signs, new pavement markings and other miscellaneous construction. The rehabilitation began in December 2016.
The Penn Street Bridge was originally constructed in 1913. It is 1,337 feet long and 80 feet wide. This section of Penn Street has an average daily traffic volume of 33,796 vehicles.