Bryn Mawr: Pennswood Bridge Has Been In Poor Shape For A Long Time
Will Soon Close for 18-Month Repair
The Pennswood Bridge spans the railroad tracks that service both SEPTA and Amtrak. Pennswood Road is a heavily travelled street that runs between Montgomery and Lancaster Avenues.
The Pennswood Bridge is going to be closed for much needed repairs, starting sometime beween March and May of 2020.
Rich Ilgenfritz of the Main Line Times, reported last month that once the repairs begin, the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic for 18 months. According to Lower Merion Commissioner Scott Zerlov, as Ilgenfritz wrote, “the bridge will have pedestrian access available at all times through the construction.”
According to Bridgereports.com, which draws its data from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI), a database maintained by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration that compiles bridge information and inspection reports for every state, the Pennswood Bridge was last inspected in 2016. At that time the condition of the deck was rated “Poor”, as was the condition of the substructure. The condition of the superstructure was rated “Serious.”
Public Works Director: Bridge Won’t Close Until Repairs Begin
Ilgenfritz wrote that, “Paul McElhaney, director of public works for Lower Merion, said the bridge is expected to be closed sometime between March and May. ‘I have guaranteed the ward commissioner that I will not allow closure of the bridge for five, six, seven, eight months before the work starts unless forced to do so by PennDOT because of structural issues,’ McElhaney said.”
Still Passable With Limitations
Last month, when questioned about the safety of the bridge, McElhaney told ThisisLowermerion.com, via email “It is still passable with weight limits that does not allow larger vehicles such as trucks. The concern the ward commissioner has is a bridge was closed in Haverford for 6 months with no work done. So unless PennDot finds a need to close because of structure we will not allow the contractor to clos it until we are at a point that is appropriate.” When asked when PenDot had lasted inspected the bridge, McElhaney said, “I received the last inspection report a couple of weeks ago.”