This November, Philadelphians are on track to have something very big to be thankful for — the completion of the South Street Bridge reconstruction. The project is still on schedule and is expected to be completed on-time and on-budget. After many delays on the start of construction and the inconvenience the bridge’s closing has caused, we are very grateful for the timely progress and economic efficiency.
The city has been planning the bridge’s reconstruction since 1995, but the project was delayed multiple times because it had to be coordinated in conjunction with many organizations. Even after the construction started, there was potential for problems; changes had to be made to the original design for the bridge’s towers.
While a new bridge was necessary, the bridge’s closing certainly hasn’t made life easy for commuters and pedestrians. Since it was closed in December 2008, traffic has increased on other bridges and a bus route was diverted. The less time people have to be inconvenienced, the better.
Philadelphia has not had an easy time financially in the past year. The fact that the construction is not running up extra costs is more than welcome.
We look forward to the bridge’s opening and the easier trips to Center City.
