PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Market Street Bridge near 30th Street Station is 93 years old, and PennDOT spokesperson Brad Rudolph said it needs some serious work.
“It’s in poor condition. It needs our attention in order to continue its service life,” he said.
On Monday, March 17, a long-term project to shore up the bridge gets underway. The $149 million endeavor will rehabilitate the bridge that carries Market Street over the Schuylkill River, I-76, the Schuylkill River Trail and the CSX train tracks.
At first, there will be some daytime lane closures near 30th Street Station as crews relocate utility lines. But the more serious impact will be felt next year when no cars will be allowed on the bridge.
“For the main span, there is about a 14-month window where Market Street is going to be closed to vehicular traffic,” Rudolph said.
That closure begins in August 2026, after the city’s semiquincentennial events. It will remain closed through October 2027.
Rudolph said PennDOT has been working with the city, Amtrak and area businesses to mitigate the impact of the closure.