Platt Bridge Closing Overnight Sunday

The George C. Platt Memorial Bridge (Route 291) in southwest Philadelphia will be closed and detoured from 8 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 13) to 5:30 a.m. Monday (Oct. 14) to implement a traffic pattern change on the 93-span structure, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said today.

This upcoming operation, which is weather dependent, is part of PennDOT’s $43 million project to keep the Platt Bridge (Route 291) in sound structural condition for the next 30 years. The bridge, built in the late 1940s and early 1950s, is 8,780 feet long and 53 feet wide.

Crews will work Sunday night into Monday morning to relocate concrete barriers and shift the single lane of eastbound traffic back over to the eastbound side of the bridge. Following the traffic pattern change, PennDOT’s contractor will start the final stage of construction to repair the center portion of the bridge.

The following posted detours will be in effect during the overnight bridge closure: 

• Eastbound Route 291 (Heading Away from Philadelphia International Airport): Follow Island Avenue to Enterprise Avenue to Interstate 95 North to Broad Street to Pattison Avenue to Route 291/Penrose Avenue; and
• Westbound Route 291/Penrose Avenue (Heading Toward Philadelphia International Airport): Follow Pattison Avenue to Broad Street to I-95 South to Enterprise Avenue to Island Avenue to Route 291.

Motorists are advised to allow additional time to travel around the Platt Bridge (Route 291) during its closure.

PennDOT’s contractor is repairing and preserving the bridge by painting the steel truss and structural steel underneath the approach spans to protect them from the elements; rehabilitating and resurfacing the center truss spans; resurfacing concrete approach spans; repairing structural steel; replacing or improving expansion joints; repairing concrete piers; repairing and replacing guide rail; and replacing damaged pedestrian railings.

The $42,776,325 project is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. Construction is scheduled to finish in June 2014. The general contractor is the joint venture of Hercules Painting Company, Inc. of New Castle, Pa. and Vimas Painting Company, Inc. of Lowellville, Ohio.

Visit www.plattbridge.com for additional information on the Platt Bridge improvement project.

PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.

For more PennDOT information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly.