Bridge Opened One Month Ahead of Schedule
(Philadelphia, November 28, 2016) – Mayor Jim Kenney, along with Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and Acting Streets Commissioner Michael A. Carroll, today lead a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the newly reconstructed 41st Street Bridge.
The bridge, located between Mantua Avenue and Poplar Street, opened one month ahead of schedule. The reconstruction project replaced a span that had been closed to vehicular traffic since 1994.
Loftus Construction, Inc. performed construction work to completely remove and replace the old 41st Street Bridge, which spans over the AMTRAK railroad tracks. The existing bridge was replaced with a new two-span weathering steel continuous girder superstructure, 232 feet long, which is supported on a steel reinforced concrete pier and abutments that are founded on steel piles extending down to bedrock.
The new bridge has architectural concrete parapets, decorative fencing, transparent protective barriers over the electrified railroad, and two (2) signature decorative pilasters. The roadway includes two travel lanes with wide shoulders and sidewalks, new street lighting, signing, line striping, ADA curb ramps, and enhanced safety features, such as the realignment of the Mantua Avenue and 41st Street intersection. Work also included replacement of the existing 180-foot northeast retaining wall.
“The completion of the 41st Street Bridge has been a long time coming,” said Mayor Kenney. “This bridge is a critical component in connecting Mantua and East Parkside, and the new design elements of the bridge enhance public safety. It is now a beautiful bridge that serves the community, and allows for an improved traffic flow for neighborhood residents, and serves as an aesthetic gateway to welcome people into the neighborhood.”
The completion of the 41st Street Bridge completes the trilogy of bridges in the Mantua area either reconstructed or replaced. “We now have the 40th, 41st and 42nd bridges completed and opened to the community,” said 3rd District Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. “This new bridge lives up to our expectations as a beautiful addition to the community. Its distinct and elegant appearance certainly promotes a renewed vitality to the immediate area.”
The Streets Department thanks community members for their patience and cooperation throughout the duration of this project. This infrastructure improvement helped the local economy by generating about 100 construction jobs, while creating another 40-50 jobs indirectly.
“Special thanks are given to the Mantua community, consultant parties, and other stakeholders for helping shape the overall appearance of the new bridge,” said Acting Streets Commissioner Michael Carroll. “Their input was invaluable, and essential in developing a bridge that properly ‘fits’ into this neighborhood. This new structure is an aesthetically pleasing, signature bridge for the community.”
Recognition and many thanks go to various City agencies and contractors that helped on this project. The reconstruction project began in May 2015. Construction costs in the amount of $10.8M were financed with 80% federal and 20% state/Act 26 funds.