PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Drivers, mark your calendars. PennDOT plans to resume construction on the Market Street Bridge project, including a full shutdown in August.
Work to rehabilitate the Market Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River was on pause for the semiquincentennial and the World Cup games in South Philly. But PennDOT spokesperson Brad Rudolph said lane closures will likely resume July 20. Then, about a month later when demolition starts, no vehicles will be allowed across for more than a year.
"We are aiming to close Market Street for about 14 months come the end of August, tentatively scheduled for around Aug. 24,” Rudolph said.
About 11,000 vehicles use the two-way bridge each day. Drivers will be detoured to Walnut and Chestnut — one-way bridges.
Rudolph said the $149 million project is necessary to rebuild the 94-year-old span. It will reconfigure traffic and add bike lanes.
He said this work will also require full closures of the eastbound Schuylkill Expressway for five weekends, starting this fall.
Rudolph said there will be pedestrian access on one side of the bridge during the work. Plans call for the bridge to reopen to vehicles in October 2027.
Lane closures expected to start July 20
Lane closures expected to start July 20
