Overview

This project will rehabilitate two stone arch bridges: Bells Mill Road Bridge and Valley Green Road Bridge over Wissahickon Creek. Over the past two centuries, these bridges have connected nearby communities and provided access to trails and green space throughout Wissahickon Valley Park.

Planned work includes:

• Removing the pavement and earth fill. Placing lightweight concrete fill material and installing a reinforced concrete deck (Bells Mill) or asphalt roadway (Valley Green).
• Removing deteriorated portions of the existing parapets, wingwalls, and spandrel. Reconstructing in-kind portions of spandrel walls and wingwalls as required. Replacing the parapets at Bells Mill Road bridge with new stone-faced concrete parapets. Repointing masonry arch barrels and substructure units.
• Filling voids under the foundations with concrete and constructing concrete collars around the perimeter.
• Wetland mitigation along Wises Mill Road, between Bells Mill Road and Valley Green Road bridges.
• Traffic will be detoured during construction. Jump to see additional details.

If you have questions, please email BridgeUnit@phila.gov

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Timeline

Construction detours

Only one bridge will be closed at a time. Construction is planned to start with the Bells Mill Road Bridge in spring 2027. This work will be completed before construction on the Valley Green Road Bridge begins.

Bells Mill Road detours

Vehicles will detour from Germantown Avenue, to Joshua Road, to Ridge Avenue during construction. Pedestrians will detour to Forbidden Drive, across the Thomas Mill Covered Bridge, to the Orange Trail.

Valley Green Road detours

Vehicles will detour from Wises Mill Road, to Henry Avenue, to Walnut Lane, to Wissahickon Avenue, to West Allens Lane, to McCallum Street, to Wolcott Drive during construction. Pedestrians will detour to Forbidden Drive, across the Mount Airy Avenue Bridge, to the Orange Trail.

Additional details

Bridge history

The Bells Mill Road stone masonry arch bridge is a 2-span 206-year-old structure linking Chestnut Hill and Andorra in Philadelphia. It spans over Wissahickon Creek with two recreational trails, Forbidden Drive and Orange Trail, adjacent to the structure. The bridge was built in 1820 providing the only road through Wissahickon Park at the time. It is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing element to the Chestnut Hill and Fairmount Park Historic Districts.

The Valley Green Road stone masonry arch bridge is a single span 194-year-old bridge linking Fairmount Park and Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia. It spans over Wissahickon Creek, with two adjacent recreational trails, Forbidden Drive and Orange Trail. Valley Green Inn is also located nearby. The bridge was built in 1832, was renovated in 1915, and is a contributing element to the Chestnut Hill and Fairmount Park Historic Districts.

Funding

• Federal Highways Administration PROTECT Grant
• City of Philadelphia Capital Fund

Project team

• Streets Department of Transportation (StreetsDOT)
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
• GFT Infrastructure Inc.

Partners

• Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (District 4)
• Councilmember Cindy Bass (District 8)
• Senator Vincent Hughes (PA Senate District 7)
• Senator Art Haywood (PA Senate District 4)
• Representative Tarik Khan (PA House District 194)
• Representative Christopher M. Rabb (PA House District 200)
• Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR)
• Philadelphia Water Department (PWD)
• Friends of the Wissahickon
• Montgomery County, Springfield Township, Whitemarsh Township

Photos