PennDOT is rehabilitating Market St Bridge which will result in a 15 month closure of Market St and a 3 month closure of the SRT.
Philly Bike Action has been continually advocating for better safety accommodations for people on bicycles during the detour, especially on Walnut St Bridge and 23rd St.
This page will continually be updated as our work develops.
August 2024
Philly Bike Action sends the following feedback calling for concrete protection on the entirety of Walnut St Bridge: here.
July 2024
Philly Bike Action calls PennDOT on the phone to confirm the following updates:
23rd St Bike Lane
- During the 15 month Market St closure (Stage 2), PennDOT confirmed they will make a consecutive bike lane on 23rd St Market to Walnut by removing the left-side parking lane pending letters of no objection from 6 local entities. This bike lane will be temporary and have a painted buffer.
- Unfortunately, because this change was late in coming, PennDOT will put their old plan to construction bid and will submit a bid revision with the new plan once 1) community letters are received 2) the required environmental clearance is granted on the new plan.
- During the 3 month SRT closure in Stage 3, PennDOT will reconfigure the temporary bike lane on 23rd St from Market to Walnut by removing a travel lane and restoring the parking lane.
Walnut St Bridge
- PennDOT said the spacing of the concrete separators on either side of the bridge will match the spacing on Chestnut St parking-separated bike lane, which the say has not had an issue with cars parking between the separators.
- And, based on our input, they presented the City with two options for bike lane protection on the bridge deck: 1) current plan: a 5 foot bike lane with some flex posts or 2) a 4 foot bike lane with concrete pill separators. These are the only two options that will not impact the longevity of the bridge.
This is a huge victory. PBA's continuous input as a community organization has had an inarguable impact on their plan revisions.
June 2024
Philly Bike Action turned out residents to support a protected bike lane on N 23rd St from Race to Market. Logan Square Neighborhood Association's voted to support the new bike lane!
May 2024
Philly Bike Action attends PennDOT presentation at Center City Residents Association/Fitler Square Neighborhood Association meeting and confirms the following new information:
- Based on our comments, PennDOT has updated its plan and will implement parking separated bike lane on Walnut St bridge during Phase 1 (2025) instead of Phase 4 (2027)
- PennDOT is considering a continuous bike lane on 23rd St from Market to Walnut by converting one of the two travel lanes to a bike lane during the 3 month SRT winter closure in Stage 3. Click here for recording (MP4).
PennDOT project managers verbally acknowledge (MP4) Philly Bike Action's input on the project by name in the meeting.
Philly Bike Action sends this updated response to PennDOT calling for:
- Continuous physical protection of the bike lane over the river where road geometry reduces the bike lane buffer to 1 foot like the “continuous modular curbs” successfully constructed on Grays Ferry Bridge.
- Closer spacing of the concrete bike lane separators on Walnut St Bridge to provide continuous protection of the bike lane similar to the continuous design on Market St Bridge.
- Continuous protected bike lane on S 23rd St from Market St to Walnut St, either by repurposing a travel lane or temporarily removing the parking lane.
April 2024
Philly Bike Action attends PennDOT presentation at Logan Square Neighborhood Association meeting.
Philly Bike Action listed as a community organization on presentation slide:
Philly Bike Action meets with PA House Representative Ben Waxman seeking support on the issue of better safety accommodations for bike users during this detour.
PennDOT updates it's project website with the following revised project documents:
Philly Bike Action creates a project timeline graphic to help explain the stages.
Philly Bike Action sends this response document to PennDOT.
It becomes clear that not only is the Walnut St Bridge temporary detour bike lane unprotected, but the planned permanent design lacks protection over the river. Philly Bike Action expands it's goals to make sure the final design has adequate protection.
March 2024
Philly Bike Action becomes aware of PennDOT's Market St Bridge Rehabilitation Project, which would detour cars and bike riders onto 23rd St and Walnut St bridge.
Click here for PennDOT's detour plan that was publicly available at that time. This was the only document available to the public at this time and included no information about bicycle protection plans.
Philly Bike Action sent this response document (PDF) to PennDOT project managers calling for:
- Immediate improvements to Walnut St Bridge bike lane
- Continuous protected bike lane on 23rd St
PennDOT/AECOM project managers respond with the following clarifications:
- Market St bridge will be closed for 15 months in Spring 2025 during Stage 2.
- The SRT will be closed for 3 months during Winter 2026 during Stage 3
- During Stage 1 before the 15th month detour, the Walnut St Bridge bike lane will be moved to the left side curb and a bike signal added at Schuylkill Ave. Parking protection will not be implemented until Stage 4.
- PennDOT says it won't create a continuous bike lane on 23rd St because "it is not possible to eliminate a lane on 23rd Street for vehicles without creating significant traffic problems."
Take Action
If you live in CCRA (south Center City west of Broad) or LSNA (north Center City west of Broad), you can email your neighborhood association to express your support for a protected bike lane on 23rd St during this detour.
