County: Philadelphia, Montgomery
Municipalities: City of Philadelphia, Lower Merion Township
State Route(s): U.S. Route 1
Local Name(s): City Avenue
Project Type: Bridge Rehabilitation
Last Updated: February 2025
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that construction will begin Monday, March 10, on a $22.4 million project to rehabilitate the City Avenue (U.S. 1) bridge over the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Cynwyd Regional Rail Line in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia.
Under this project, PennDOT’s contractor will rehabilitate the 114-year-old, 60-foot-long, 80-foot-wide, concrete arch bridge, which was previously widened in 1934. Additional work includes repairing the structure’s sidewalks; replacing existing utility lines; rehabilitating and extending the retaining wall; installing stormwater management; and resurfacing operations.
Pedestrian access will also be improved between City Avenue, SEPTA’s Bala Station, and the Parkside Cynwyd Trail with construction of a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp and stair system.
During construction, for several shorter-term stages, traffic will be reduced to a single lane in both directions for the approximately 39,654 motorists who travel the road, daily. Access to adjacent businesses and train service at SEPTA’s Bala Station will not be disrupted.
Beginning, Monday, March 10, through Monday, April 7, City Avenue (U.S 1) will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Bryn Mawr Avenue and 47th Street for excavation and paving operations.
Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work area because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.
For more information, please visit the City Avenue (U.S. 1) Bridge over SEPTA rehabilitation project webpage.
JPC Group, Inc. of Philadelphia is the general contractor on this project, which is financed with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent state funds.
Motorists can check conditions on major roadways including color-coded winter conditions, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.
Information about infrastructure in District 6, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D6Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at www.projects.penndot.gov.
This project will rehabilitate the existing City Avenue (U.S. 1) bridge over the SEPTA Cynwyd Regional Rail Line. The existing arch bridge was constructed in 1910 and the structure was widened in 1934. Rehabilitation includes repairs to the arch bridge and sidewalk structures, replacement of existing utility lines on the bridge, and replacement of the roadway, sidewalk, and protective barriers. In addition, existing retaining walls will be rehabilitated and extended. A new ADA ramp and stair system will be constructed to improve pedestrian access between City Avenue, SEPTA’s Bala Station, and the Parkside Cynwyd Trail.
The existing bridge is a reinforced concrete arch bridge with a clear span of 60 feet. The 13-foot wide sidewalks are supported by two steel plate girders. The bridge has a 50-foot curb-to-curb width and an 80-foot out-to-out width, four 11-foot 6-inch lanes, and a 4-foot median.
The project will be built under multiple stages, with two lanes of traffic in each direction maintained for the majority of the duration of construction. There will be several stages of work that reduce traffic to one lane in each direction. Access to adjacent businesses will be maintained at all times throughout construction. SEPTA’s Bala Station will remain open and train service will not be interrupted.
Scope of Work
Rehabilitation of the City Avenue (U.S. 1) Bridge over SEPTA includes improvements to roadway drainage; construction of new ramp and stair structure for access to SEPTA’s Bala Station; construction of a new stair structure for access to the future Parkside Cynwyd Trail; construction of a new retaining wall along City Avenue (U.S. 1) adjacent to the bridge; upgrading of utilities currently running below the sidewalks on the bridge; and milling and asphalt overlay of the roadway.
Purpose and Need
The purpose of the project is to provide a safe and efficient crossing while meeting the long-term transportation needs in the project area. The need for the project is due to the existing bridge being in poor condition with areas of significant deterioration. The arch exhibits severe spalling due to the migration of roadway drainage through the structure at the gutter lines. The abutments exhibit severe spalling due to leaking deck joints at the ends of the bridge.
Traffic Impacts
There will be no detours for the project. Construction will be performed in stages, with the majority of the stages maintaining two lanes of traffic in each direction. For several shorter-term stages (4 -8 weeks each), traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction across the bridge.
Funding
Construction is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds.
Resources
- TIP Visualization Report
- Project Plan (PDF)
- FAQ (PDF)
- Virtual Meeting Recording(opens in a new tab)
Contact Information
George Gumas
Project Manager
c-ggumas@pa.gov
Accessibility
The project documents can be made available in alternative languages or formats if requested. If you need translation or interpretation services, have special needs, or have concerns that require individual attention, please contact the PennDOT Project Manager listed above.
Title VI
Pursuant to the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, PennDOT does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. If you feel that you have been denied the benefits of, or participation in a PennDOT program or activity, you may contact the PennDOT, Bureau of Equal Opportunity, DBE/Title VI Division at 717-787-5891.
