Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker recently joined with the city’s Department of Streets and federal representatives to celebrate the completion of the city’s first major project to be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the reconstructed Montgomery Avenue Bridge.
BIL money funded 80 percent of the $17 million bridge replacement project with Pennsylvania funding 15 percent, and city capital funds financing 5 percent.
The new bridge, which officially reopened for travel on Sept. 24, is a key connector in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood that will reopen a vital access point for North Philadelphia, the mayor said.
The bridge was constructed using roughly 191 tons of structural steel and 220 feet of Prefabricated Modular T-Wall System retaining walls.
“The Montgomery Avenue Bridge reconstruction demonstrates the wide scope of work carried out by our talented teams at the Department of Streets,” Kristin Del Rossi, Department of Streets commissioner, said. “We are proud to lead the way on major infrastructure projects around Philadelphia, including the Fox Chase Lorimer Trail connection for pedestrians and cyclists, the Penrose Roundabout near the stadium complex, and many traffic calming installations in neighborhoods across the city.”
The city worked closely with Amtrak, Conrail, and PECO, a Philadelphia-based utility, to plan and coordinate demolition and construction work.