Avenue to see $13 million facelift
by MICHAEL J. MISHAK
Two stretches of Germantown Avenue are slated for major improvements under a $13 million plan by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). With construction set for 2007, the agency unveiled its preliminary design and took public comment at a meeting earlier this month.
According to project manager Mike Girman, the effort will be separated into two projects, with one extending from Mermaid Lane to Allens Lane and the other from Church Lane to Ashmead Street.
While both will consist of similar improvements -- replacing existing pavement and installing new trolley tracks, curbs, sidewalks, traffic signals and signage -- the northern project will include rehabilitation of the stone-arch bridge that carries the Avenue over Cresheim Creek.
While PennDOT doesn't expect a final design until next year, Girman already knows what detailed analysis and engineering will reveal about the masonry bridge.
"The drainage of the roadway is not as effective as it should be," he said. "We want to fix it on our terms, not on Mother Nature's."
As the agency finalizes its design, PennDOT will meet with area residents, businesses and institutions to draft a traffic management plan, Girman said. With Cresheim Valley Drive closed, PennDOT is sensitive to traffic concerns, he said. The southern project, estimated to be a one-year job, is likely to commence in summer 2007, he said.
Work on the northern project, estimated to last about 18 months, will not begin until the southern construction nears completion, he said. The second phase presents stiffer challenges. The century-old bridge, which connects Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill, may be unable to support construction and traffic simultaneously, Girman said. PennDOT is currently reviewing technology that would reinforce the bridge during construction, allowing for one lane of traffic. The technology, designed by an England-based firm, has not been approved for use in Pennsylvania, Girman said.
The project will use materials like stamped concrete and Belgian blocks to maintain the Avenue's historical character.
While rails will be replaced, trolley enthusiasts shouldn't hold their breath. When asked if the restored infrastructure signaled the return of the Route 23 trolley to the Northwest, SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said, "There are no active plans to resume trolley service up there."
SEPTA discontinued regular trolley service in 1992, maintaining periodic weekend service until 1996. The transit agency called the removal of light rail service temporary at the time. While it has taken some significant steps in restoring Girard Avenue's Route 15 trolley, even that project remains on hold.
