©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Bridge reopens eastbound; will remain one-way
by JENNIFER KATZ

The Willow Grove Avenue bridge over Septa’s R8 tracks opened last week but only to eastbound traffic. (Photo by David Soffa)

The Willow Grove Avenue Bridge reopened as a permanent one-way street on July 13, according to a statement from Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson. Department officials said they were unable to repair the pre-existing sidewalk on the westbound side of the bridge.

“Because of the severity of the damage, the sidewalk had to be replaced,” said department spokesperson Keisha McCarty-Skelton.

Department officials would not comment as to specifics regarding why the bridge could not be repaired to function as a two-way thoroughfare, McCarty-Skelton said.

Vehicular traffic will now travel one-way, eastbound along the bridge from Saint Martins Lane to Seminole Avenue.

McCarty-Skelton said that the roadblocks, cinderblocks and orange netting would remain along the bridge temporarily to remind people that it is now one-way.

“It’s there to avoid a head on collision,” explained McCarty-Skelton.

The bridge was originally closed on March 9, after it was determined that emergency repair work was needed to repair a curb steel beam that had deteriorated from run-off water over time.

New paving and signage has been posted, McCarty-Skelton said. Additionally, both SEPTA parking lots at the Saint Martin’s Regional Rail Train Station are accessible as well as local driveways.

Contact staff writer Jennifer Katz at 215-248-8804 or jenn@chestnuthilllocal.com.