The construction of the long-awaited Schuylkill River swing bridge is nearing completion, with the opening expected to take place sometime this winter, writes Molly McVety for the Philly Voice.
Earlier in July, construction crews installed six new truss segments at the site where the previous swing bridge stood before it was dismantled in 2018.
The new bridge, which will connect Grays Ferry Crescent Park to Bartram’s Garden, will extend the Schuylkill River Trail to the Bartram’s Mile Trail in Southwest Philadelphia, is intended to provide pedestrians and cyclists with a new way to cross the river.
A swing bridge can be rotated, so when a boat approaches, vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be temporarily stopped while the bridge rotates horizontally on a vertical axis, to allow the boat to pass.
Throughout the summer, crews will be joining truss segments, executing rebar and concrete work, and installing stainless steel mesh inserts and protective railings on the bridge deck.
“This project involves a specialized team including ironworkers, electricians, and millwrights; it is a unique and complex project for the City of Philadelphia,” said Department of Streets Communications Manager Christopher Young.
Read more about the Schuylkill River swing bridge project and what its opening will mean for Philadelphia pedestrians and cyclists in Philly Voice.
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