PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia has received full funding to put a cap over the Vine Street Expressway. The project is known as the Chinatown Stitch because its purpose is to reconnect the two sides of the neighborhood that were divided when the section of I-676 was built about 30 years ago.
The project will build a park over a two-and-a-half block stretch of the expressway between 10th and 13th streets. Construction is expected to take three or four years.
“This is truly a transformative day in the history of Philadelphia ,” said Congressman Brendan Boyle Monday.
He and members of the city’s congressional delegation had gathered to announce that nearly $160 million from the Infrastructure Bill has been designated for the Chinatown Stitch.
“We will finally be repairing a historic wrong, an injustice that was done to a community.”
When the Vine Street Expressway was built in the late 1980s and early ’90s, state and city officials considered dividing Chinatown an acceptable cost. Decades did not heal the community’s scar, but John Chin of the Chinatown Development Corporation says this project will.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart,” said Chin.
He says he was moved to tears when members of the city’s congressional delegation announced the full $160 million cost would be covered.
Chin has helped the community work with PennDOT for nearly two years on a design for the cap.
“Chinatown’s relationship with PennDOT has come full circle from 60 years ago when it was in charge of constructing that highway and dividing our community,” he said.
“The Chinatown Stitch is transformative. You will no longer see the highway. And it will provide green space and amenities that our community never had.”
Mayor Cherelle Parker applauded the project, which was begun during the Jim Kenney administration — but fitting in with her vision of unity.
“We are going to ensure that we really are one city, because we are bringing together a community that people across our city take great pride in,” the mayor said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028.
It has taken more than 30 years to repair the damage done to Chinatown by the expressway. The community is now concerned that a proposed arena on its south side poses another threat.