Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) has announced that construction on Harvey Street in Germantown is anticipated to begin this week. Road closures will occur between Lincoln Drive and the SEPTA Chestnut Hill West overpass, west of Pulaski Street. A full road closure is expected during business hours — approximately 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday — and it will be partially closed on the westbound side of the street during the evening and on weekends for approximately five to seven weeks. During construction, the main trailhead will remain open, but the secondary trail access …
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Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) has announced that construction on Harvey Street in Germantown is anticipated to begin this week. Road closures will occur between Lincoln Drive and the SEPTA Chestnut Hill West overpass, west of Pulaski Street. A full road closure is expected during business hours — approximately 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday — and it will be partially closed on the westbound side of the street during the evening and on weekends for approximately five to seven weeks. During construction, the main trailhead will remain open, but the secondary trail access point will be closed.
The construction involves renovating broken sidewalks, creating curbing, and building a new mid-block crosswalk as part of Phase I of FOW’s Wissahickon Valley Park Germantown Neighborhood Connection Project.
Begun in 2022, the goal is to enhance accessibility and safe pedestrian connectivity to the Germantown section of Wissahickon Valley Park. To date, FOW staff and volunteers have completed several trail and beautification efforts, which are also expected to discourage illegal dumping and ultimately encourage more recreation. They include rerouting part of a multi-use trail, installing signage, building a wooden footbridge, restoring three historic stone staircases, and planting over 350 native trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
When the current work is completed, the Philadelphia Streets Department will install new permanent speed cushions. Final Phase I enhancements to be added this year include laying a crushed stone pathway and placing protective boulders in the area around the Henry Houston Memorial Statue, plus new seating at the Harvey Street Trailhead.
Phase I represents a $450,000-plus capital investment. Phase II, now in the design stage, focuses on trail development through the creation of the Wissahickon’s first “all persons trail,” a universally accessible outdoor path with such features as stable surfaces, gentle grades and sensory-friendly navigation. In partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club and funded by the William Penn Foundation, FOW will also be targeting amenity improvements and habitat restoration.
To receive text message updates on construction, text “GTOWN” to 267-966-2207.
