South Street Bridge to Close for Reconstruction Fall 2008 July 15, 2008, Volume 55, No. 1
The City of Philadelphia has announced that the South Street Bridge is to be closed this fall in order to demolish and rebuild the failing structure. The City anticipates that this project will last up to 24 months. The South Street Bridge has been in a state of disrepair for several years, and according to the City’s engineers the crumbling infrastructure is too weak to withstand this upcoming winter season in tact. In fact, Penn’s campus has already been managing the inconvenience of a partially functional bridge during the last year when the City, in order to extend the service life of the Bridge, restricted delivery trucks, SEPTA and Penn Transit buses from crossing because of their weight. The closing of the Bridge for reconstruction will have a considerable impact on accessing the University and Health System, and potentially lead to increased traffic congestion on and around campus. As a result, the University is preparing to support faculty, staff, students, alumni, patients and guests who may be impacted by the Bridge’s closing. This month, a new website (www.publicsafety.upenn.edu/ssbridge) will provide information about the project and include recommended maps, routes and detours for those traveling to campus by automobile, as well as useful information on alternative modes of transportation. If your school, center or department website includes directions to campus, or links with directions to campus, please add a link to the South Street Bridge website. The University is also considering a number of initiatives to encourage people not to drive to campus. Check the South Street Bridge website for updates on these actions. —Division of Business Services http://www.upenn.edu/almanac/volumes/v55/n01/bridge.html
