Portion of Forbidden Drive Now Open

The area of Forbidden Drive underneath the Walnut Lane Bridge has been reopened, according to the Philadelphia Streets Department.

That area had been closed since the end of November. The city's Department of Parks and Recreation and the Streets Department closed the trail then after hearing reports of falling concrete from the historic bridge.

Officials said even though debris was falling from the bridge, it didn't mean the bridge itself was deteriorating. The sections that were falling of were purely cosmetic, and the bridge remains open, since no structural issues exist.

Now, though, the Streets Department has installed a shelter to protect people from material that could potentially fall from up above. Its clearance is 7'6".

That shelter was installed in March.

Equestrians are required to dismount from their horses before they pass through the shelter.

The Streets Department is eventually expected to develop a long-term plan for dealing with the falling concrete. The bridge opened in 1909.