Service on the Chestnut Hill East Line is suspended now thru Tuesday, September 2 so SEPTA can rehabilitate five bridges on the line. These bridges were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This rehabilitation program is part of SEPTA’s Capital Program and consists of rehabilitating and restoring all of the structures to a state of good repair and extend their useful life.
Here are the five bridges that will be getting rehabilitated as well as a little information about each!
Wayne Avenue Bridge
This bridge is located on the inbound side of Wayne Junction Station in the Nicetown-Tioga neighborhood between Berkley St and Clarissa St. The original bridge at this location was built in 1893 and repaired most recently in 2011.
Proposed rehabilitation activities include storage and reinstallation of existing deck ties and track structure, structural steel repairs, steel bearing repairs, masonry repairs/repointing and painting.
Logan Street Bridge
This bridge carries two tracks through the neighborhood of Bellfield just north of Wayne Junction between Stenton Ave and Belfield Ave. The bridge was originally built in 1932.
Proposed rehabilitation activities include removal and reinstallation of the track structure, concrete repairs, steel repairs and painting, and concrete platform replacement.
Chew Avenue Bridge
This bridge is located inbound of Washington Lane Station between East Tulpehocken St and High St in the neighborhood of East Germantown. It carries two tracks over Chew Avenue which is also designated for bicycle use and is served by Route 18. The original bridge at this location was built in 1901 and repaired most recently in 2010.
Proposed rehabilitation activities include removal and reinstallation of the track structure, steel repairs and painting, waterproofing top of deck and steel troughs, masonry repairs/repointing, and installation of crash walls/attenuators.
Mt. Pleasant Avenue Bridge
This bridge carries two tracks inbound toward Sedgwick Station through the East Mount Airy neighborhood between Sprague St and Ardleigh St. Mt. Pleasant Ave is designated for bicycle use and Route 71 passes under the bridge with stops at Sprague St. The bridge was originally built in 1907.
Proposed rehabilitation activities include removal and reinstallation of the track structure, concrete repairs, steel repairs and painting, and waterproofing installation.
Cresheim Valley Drive Bridges
This project includes the rehabilitation of two bridges inbound to Center City southeast of Wyndmoor Station. The bridges pass over the PA Railroad (PRR) Fort Washington Branch and Cresheim Valley Drive between Germantown Ave and Crittenden St. The project area is located in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood adjacent to Wissahickon Valley Park with parklands surrounding the project area. The PRR Fort Washington Branch is currently an abandoned railroad track that is anticipated to be connected to the nearby Cresheim Trail. The bridges were originally built in 1931.
Proposed rehabilitation activities include removal and reinstallation of the track structure, concrete repairs, masonry repairs, installation of a waterproofing membrane and protection board to the arch extrados and inside face of spandrel walls, concrete parapets and retaining wall repairs and replacement of ballast retaining walls.
Thank you to all SEPTA customers and especially the riders of the Chestnut Hill East Line for your continued patience as we work to make SEPTA as safe as possible!