Saturday afternoon, Philadelphia Mayor and Penn alumnus Michael Nutter said it was “a new day” for the city at the re-opening of the South Street Bridge. A ribbon-cutting ceremony along the width of the structure symbolized the final step in reconnecting South Philadelphia and Center City with University City and the Penn community.
The $68-million project, which began construction 23 months ago, was completed a month ahead of schedule and on budget. Nutter estimated over 30,000 people will use the bridge daily after Saturday's reopening.
The bridge was almost entirely reconstructed after fifteen years of planning.
“We are one community, one neighborhood,” State Representative James Roebuck said at the event.
