PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A long-awaited extension of the Schuylkill River Trail opens Saturday, connecting Center City with Grays Ferry.
The new half-mile trail section is supported by two cable-stayed bridge towers visible from the Schuylkill Expressway above.
The $48 million stretch dubbed "Christian to Crescent" links the current southern end of the Schuylkill River trail at Christian Street, with the Grays Ferry Crescent.
It's been a long time coming. Planning for this section extending the Schuylkill River trail started 13 years ago, according to Joe Syrnick, president of the Schuylkill River Development Corporation.
"You're getting people connected from the neighborhoods to Center City and the jobs therein," Syrnick told KYW Newsradio. "It just feels really good to finally get it done."
The trail expansion should provide an economic benefit worth millions, Syrnick continued. "That's where the theaters are, that's where the schools are, but most importantly that's where the jobs are."
As he explained, the project's design considered the environmental impact of implanting support columns in the river bed. "By building a different kind of bridge than just a regular beam bridge you can have less penetrations into the river," he said, adding the extension also provides a safer route for walkers and cyclists.
"They're now on their own facility and they're not trying to navigate the Center City streets where they're jockeying for position with automobiles and trucks," he said.
A fundraiser on Thursday will allow runners and walkers to be among the first to use the new section of trail. After that, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the northern end of the extension near Christian Street.