24/7 Closures Coming To Historic Philly Bridge In 'Poor Condition'

PHILADELPHIA — The University Avenue Bridge, a historic structure that carries University Avenue over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, will soon have 24/7 closures to get the bridge out of "poor condition," PennDOT says.

Built in 1929, the four-lane bridge University Avenue in West Philadelphia with South 34th Street in South Philly's Grays Ferry neighborhood.

In 1994 was added to the National Register of Historic Places. But PennDOT says the bridge has deteriorated to "poor condition," and vandalism has long been a concern.

Significant construction will begin next week, when the bridge will be reduced to one lane each way, 24/7, for about four months.

Drivers should expect significant backups and delays, PennDOT says.

About 36,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day, according to PennDOT.

Once steel repairs are completed, the bridge will no longer be listed in poor condition, PennDOT says. Crews will also clean the bridge's notable operator towers — a target of graffiti — and put fencing around them to prevent further vandalism.

The state-funded repairs are part of a $16.2 million PennDOT project to rehabilitate 14 bridges in Philly and its suburbs.

Starting Aug. 17, University Avenue will be reduced to a single lane both ways in the bridge area — between Grays Ferry Avenue and the Interstate 76 East off-ramp.

Closures will run 24/7 and are expected to last through Dec. 15. But the precise timeline is weather-dependent.

Traffic will pass through the southbound lanes while repairs take place on the northbound side, and vice versa. Pedestrian access will remain open on the side of the bridge that's closed to traffic.