The Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River in Center City Philadelphia reopened on March 19, marking the substantial completion of PennDOT's $105.1 million project that included repairs to eight other nearby structures on both sides of the river. The bridge had been closed to through traffic since August 2019.
During the Chestnut Street Bridge closure, crews repaired and repainted the bridge's steel superstructure; placed a new concrete deck; installed wider sidewalks; replaced the bridge's decorative lighting, parapets and railings; and created a dedicated, parking-protected bicycle lane that extends along Chestnut Street between 34th Street and 22nd Street.
Structural repairs also were completed on historic stone arch bridges carrying Chestnut Street over the CSX Railroad and over 24th Street on the east side of the Schuylkill River. 24th Street will remain closed at Chestnut Street until rehabilitation of the masonry stone facades of both bridges finishes in early summer.
On the west side of the river in the vicinity of 30th Street Station, the structural components of two Schuylkill Avenue viaducts over Interstate 76 (Schuylkill Expressway) between Market Street and Chestnut Street, and between Chestnut Street and Walnut Street, were repaired, repainted and redecked.
Completion of a number of minor construction items will complete the entire project by early summer.
The structures on Chestnut Street were constructed between 1910 and 1960 and carry an average of 18,300 vehicles per day. The structures on Schuylkill Avenue were constructed in the late 1950's and carry an average of 8,600 vehicles per day.
For more information on the project, visit www.chestnutstreetbridges.com.