To the delight of many pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists, the rickety South Street Bridge is set for a major facelift that will transform the structure by 2006.
The present bridge, completed in 1923, shakes under heavy traffic, and its sidewalk is full of holes.
The decrepit structure will be replaced by a bridge that is 26 feet wider and much more ornate.
"It won't be a plain-Jane bridge by any stretch of the imagination," said John Lutz, the city's chief bridge engineer. "It'll be something the citizens of Philadelphia... can take pride in."
The new bridge will feature two vehicular travel lanes in each direction rather than just one. The sidewalks will be an additional foot wider, but the most sought-after benefit may be bicycle lanes lining both sides of the bridge and its surrounding streets. The city's new lanes will stretch from 27th Street to Convention Avenue.
"There is a lot of bicycle activity in the area, and we wanted to address this issue as one of our primary concerns," Lutz said.
The paths will connect with the bike lanes that the University installed over the summer on Spruce Street between 34th and 38th streets, according to Charles Newman of the University architect's office. However, Lutz said that the bike lanes will not continue east of 27th Street due to the narrowness of South Street beyond that point.
The new bridge will also feature tinted concrete, as well as gazebo-like overlooks on pier outcroppings. These will mimic the gatehouses that were present when the South Street drawbridge was still in use. Today, they will allow pedestrians to stop and admire the downtown skyline.
"The city's idea was to try to keep the keep the character of the existing bridge," Newman said.
In addition, the metal screening over the railroad tracks west of the Schuylkill Expressway will be upgraded to a material such as glass block.
Lutz said that the city is expending so much effort on this bridge because "the location warrants it." The design will have to be approved by the city art commission.
"It's not to say that we don't put major effort in other bridges, but we have a chance to put a little more architectural effort in here to reflect the important of this crossing," he said.
Lutz added that the South Street Bridge would not look like the austere Walnut Street Bridge.
The price for such enhancements is not cheap, but the city will only fork over 5 percent of the bridge's estimated $45 million cost. Eighty percent of the funds are coming from the Federal Highway Administration, and the remaining 15.5 percent is being picked up by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
With final design beginning next month, the earliest that the 72-week construction process will begin is December 2004. During the construction period, traffic will be detoured to Walnut and Chestnut streets via 22nd and 23rd streets in Center City and 33rd and 34th streets in University City.
The ramps to and from the Schuylkill Expressway will also be temporarily closed.
Lutz said that nearby residents and institutions such as Penn "would rather bite the bullet and get it over and done with as quickly as possible."
Newman agreed with the city's decision to redo the bridge.
"It's just one of those realities -- the bridge needs to be replaced, and everybody just has to accommodate that reality," Newman added.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia employee Kelly Tammone will not mourn the old bridge's passing.
"I feel like it's going to fall down every time I walk across it," Tammone said of her daily commute across the bridge. "I just hope I'll make it to the other side."
