PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A section of the Schuylkill River Trail in Center City — originally set to reopen later this month — will remain closed due to unfinished repairs.
PennDOT said "sub-surface obstruction" in the river bank in the proximity of the Chestnut Street Bridge is preventing completion of planned structural repairs to the foundation of a retaining wall.
Detour and trail end signs are posted on the trail with a chain link fence blocking access to the rest of the path.
KYW Newsradio is awaiting details from PennDOT as to what type of obstruction is delaying the project.
Related
Work on the Chestnut Street Bridge, to fix a retaining wall, has been ongoing since 2017. In February, PennDOT said the $103.3 million project had reached a point where it was necessary to close the trail for three months.
PennDOT spokesperson Brad Rudolph explained at the time, “It’s really a bulkhead up against the river, so it’s a pretty complex project.”
Boxer Ashima Aiyer of South Philadelphia includes the trail in the running portion of her training regimen every day, but has to turn around at Chestnut Street.
"Just have to wait it out and be patient, I guess," she said.
Ryan McGrogan of South Philly runs the trail twice a week. As part of his workout, he likes to run up and down the Art Museum steps when he can.
"It will definitely make life much easier when you are trying to get a workout outside," he said.
The trail, which has been closed for the work since mid-February, is now set to reopen at the end of next month, something Aiyer and McGrogan are happy about, because the trail is the easiest way to the Art Museum steps.