Holme Avenue Bridge to open by the end of October

Four months after closing and two months ahead of schedule, the Holme Avenue Bridge is expected to reopen by the end of October.

“October 31 if everything goes well,” PennDOT’s Harold Windisch specified.

Windisch brought the welcome news last night to the Holme Circle Civic Association meeting. More than 20 people attended to hear firsthand the news announced Monday on Facebook.

Watch the announcement below from PennDOT’s Harold Windisch

The bridge between Arthur Street and Pennypack Street/Convent Avenue closed in June when Buckley Construction found severe deterioration while working on the then-partially closed bridge. Since closing, the bridge has created traffic nightmares for those living nearby and those who’ve had to alter their commutes.

“We’re putting back what was there before,” Windisch explained of how the bridge will look. Aside from some new lighting and sidewalks, the stretch of Holme Avenue will look just about the same as it did before the bridge closed. Anti-graffiti paint will also be added to the rails on either side of the bridge.

As for the resulting detours, those routes will return to normal, too. The turning light at Ashton and Willits roads will be removed and the lanes repainted; Holme Circle’s traffic lights will be turned back on.

HCCA President Joe Razler explained the association has also formed a committee to beautify the circle in conjunction with the end of construction. Those lanes will be repainted and the HCCA wants to install neighborhood signs similar to the one at the Winchester Park entrance.

That news brought the meeting to its new business: neighborhood kids. Several residents voiced concerns about teens and preteens drinking, stealing and vandalizing nearby properties.

Razler and 8th PDAC members in attendance encouraged their neighbors to continue to call 911 to report such problems and track behavioral patterns.

One other way to do that, Razler encourage, is to join the HCAA. Though more than 20 people attended Wednesday’s meeting, Razler said only eight are dues-paying members. Memberships drives will ramp up beginning with the next meeting, Oct. 26.