The Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Drive Bridge provides a connection between MLK Drive and Eakins Oval. This rehabilitation project will replace and widen the bridge deck to:
- Ensure structural integrity.
- Meet current standards.
- Accommodate a side path for pedestrians and cyclists.
Reconstruction activities for the Martin Luther King Drive Bridge begins Monday, March 27, 2023. Advanced bridge closure notification signs were posted on Monday, March 13, to announce the closure. Reconstruction of the bridge was awarded to Haines & Kibblehouse, Inc. contractors. Construction is expected to be completed by Spring 2025. The value of the construction contract is $20.1M and is being fully funded using federal dollars.
MLK Drive Bicycle and Pedestrian Access During Bridge Construction
Trail users can still access MLK Drive between the East Falls Bridge and the construction zone south of Sweetbriar Drive.
The detour route map below shows the official trail detour route and an alternative route. The detour routes are for both directions from the MLK Drive Trail to the Art Museum. The SRT detour map is for the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT) beneath the Martin Luther King Bridge (MLK) that will be closed for the two weeks beginning Monday, March 11, 2024.
From the north, the detour route starts at Sweetbriar Drive and travels on Lansdowne Drive. The route continues on the sidewalks on 34th Street and a side path on Mantua Avenue. Trail users can then follow the painted bike lanes and sidewalks on Spring Garden Street to Art Museum Drive.
For those traveling from the north end of MLK Drive, the best access to MLK Drive is from the East Falls Bridge.
Email MLK.bridge.rehab@phila.gov with comments or questions about the project.