The South Street Bridge, was closed to vehicles and pedestrians late this afternoon due to structural problems. Both westbound lanes of the Schuylkill Expressway were also blocked off as of Thursday evening.
Police at the scene confirmed that the bridge was shedding debris, with pieces of concrete falling from the structure onto the highway below. No injuries have been reported.
An inspection performed today by a structural engineer found the bridge to be rusting and deteriorating -- damage which might have been accelerated by the heavy rain the area has had recently, according to reports from NBC 10.
In 2001, it was announced that the bridge would undergo a $45 million facelift to transform the aging bridge. However, work on the project is not scheduled to begin until 2006 as design and contract details are finalized.
Completed in 1923, the bridge is known to have numerous holes in its sidewalk, and to shake under heavy traffic.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which is examining the bridge, could not be reached for comment.
