Commissioners Discuss Long, Long-Term Belmont Avenue Project
Current Railroad Bridge Would Be Replaced
What makes this project so daunting is that the Norfolk Southern Railway bridge that’s “in the way.”
In his recent newsletter, and on a recorded video conversation with Dan Bernheim (President of the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners), Commissioner Mike McKeon (D, Ward 3) discussed a proposed $40 million long-term project that would widen Belmont Avenue where it approaches the Schuylkill Expressway.
In his newsletter, McKeon said “I support the project in its current state. Over time, suggestions have been made to add more lanes including lanes into the township, and I remain strongly opposed to such changes because the idea is not to convert Belmont Avenue into a highway at the expense of the neighborhoods of Belmont Hills and Bala Cynwyd. “
The plan, as McKeon explains in the video, is for the railroad to build two temporary bridges further down Belmont Avenue (toward Main Street in Manayunk). Then the bridge that exists now would be torn down. And after the new bridge is constructed, the temporary bridges will come down.
The widening is really needed. The argument about more traffic being generated in residential neighborhoods doesn’t make sense.
It is a ton of $, but LM only pays a tiny fraction. LM needs a better gateway from the city to our township, easier x-way access, & at the same time to clean up those properties that would be bought by pdot.
I drive through there 2x/ week , and it is a real mess!