Controller faults city for crumbling bridges

    Philadelphia’s City Controller is citing safety hazards on bridges maintained by the city. The controller released a report on the bridges today.

    Philadelphia’s City Controller is citing safety hazards on bridges maintained by the city. The controller released a report on the bridges today.

    Listen:
    [audio: 091216tmbridge.mp3]

    The survey reviewed 23 bridges and found four with serious problems. City Controller Alan Butkovitz says the worst bridges are on Henry Avenue, Calumet Street, Edison Avenue and Willow Grove Avenue.

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    Butkovitz: These deteriorating conditions present serious safety hazards to motorists, pedestrians and the railroad systems that run under two of the bridges. Poor conditions and weakening structures have caused weight limits restrictions on three of these bridges.

    The controller is quick to point out none of the structures is on the verge of collapse, but he is calling for enforcement of weight limits on the spans. Streets department officials say they’re keeping an eye on the bridges in question – and others in the city, and are doing maintenance and replacement when the budget money is available.

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