PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The City of Philadelphia has filed a formal complaint against CSX in an effort to get the freight rail operator to fix its crumbling viaduct over 25th Street in South Philadelphia.
For years, residents have waited for CSX to make good on a promise to repair the mile-long railroad bridge.
“It’s very frustrating because now it’s getting dangerous,” said Anthony Trave. Fallen concrete nearly missed his car parked under the mile-long elevated bridge carrying freight trains through South Philadelphia.
“You don’t need a permit, so we just park there. But after that fell, we’re definitely not going to park there anymore.”
In 2015, CSX publicly pledged to repair the bridge. The project was to include replacing the parapet walls, restoring the drainage system and bridge decking, and resurfacing the concrete support columns.
But since then the project has stalled, with only a net installed to catch falling debris.
“Where the netting ends, that’s where the concrete fell,” Trave told KYW Newsradio.
“The netting looks like it’s doing its job but above it, it’s not holding it anymore.”
The city filed a complaint on July 8 with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission seeking to enforce a 2005 PUC order for CSX to repair the viaduct, Streets Department spokeswoman Crystal Jacobs Shipman said. The PUC has jurisdiction over rail crossings.
CSX, in a statement to KYW Newsradio, said the bridge passed a safety inspection last year and meets all federal regulations. The company said it remains in ongoing discussions with the city about the city’s role in repairing the bridge’s drainage system. CSX added that its maintenance program focuses on structural integrity and “does not emphasize the aesthetic appearance of bridge structures.”
City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson has urged CSX to repair the viaduct.
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“The state of Philadelphia’s 25th Street Viaduct is disgraceful,” Johnson wrote to CSX in March 2021.
“At best, it is a massive blight on South Philadelphia. At worst, it is a danger to the community … it is outrageous for CSX to renege on its public promise to the City of Philadelphia and its people.”
“CSX owns it. This problem wouldn’t be here if they didn’t have the train track,” Trave said.
“I would just love for CSX to just fix it. I’m sure it’s possible.”
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CSX shared this statement in full with KYW Newsradio.
“CSX began work on the 25th Street viaduct in 2014 and has completed various phases of the project to ensure the safe operation of rail traffic and the safety of the South Philadelphia community. The company was awarded a Pennsylvania DOT grant in December 2021 with plans to complete additional renovations on portions of the viaduct. We remain in ongoing discussions with the city about required repairs to the drainage system and their role in addressing this critical need.
“Bridges across our network are regularly inspected by certified railroad bridge experts and maintained in accordance with CSX policies, which meet or exceed federal regulations.
“The 25th Street Viaduct was inspected in 2021 and determined to be safe for railroad operations. Our bridge maintenance program focuses on structural integrity, reliability and safety for railroad operations. It does not emphasize the aesthetic appearance of bridge structures. CSX maintains this and all bridge structures on our network in full compliance with all federal laws and regulations.”
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