Plans to overhaul two major bridges in Northwest Philly underway

 (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks, file)

(Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks, file)

City officials expect the overhaul of the Willow Grove Avenue Bridge in Chestnut Hill to be completed by the end of the year.

Construction on the $3.5 million project started in January. To date, the existing bridge has been removed and the new steel beams and concrete bridge deck have been placed.

In the coming months, work will focus on building the bridge’s sidewalks and parapets. The bridge’s roadway approaches and driveways, railings and fencing will follow.

In the meantime, work on a larger Northwest Philadelphia bridge should be underway, according to PennDOT officials.

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Spokesman Charlie Metzger said construction on the Walnut Lane Bridge, which connects Roxborough and Mt. Airy, is expected to start this fall and finish in August 2017.

The existing bridge’s deck, railings and sidewalks will all be replaced. Its substructure will be repaired. Period street lighting will also be added.

“We’ll try to make it look like it looks now,” said Metzger.

The $14 million project is expected to detour traffic for “no more than six months.” Most of the work can be done without closing the bridge, said Metzger.

Cars will be re-routed over Wissahickon, Midvale and Henry Avenues when the span is impassable.

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