Demolition of the deteriorating 41st Street Bridge, which began last summer, has reached its final stage. Work began on Sunday, April 17 to remove the existing bridge piers adjacent to the Amtrak tracks. This work will run through the end of the month from Sunday through Thursday during the overnight hours of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to avoid interruption of Amtrak’s rail line. Most of the demolition activities will occur between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., during Amtrak’s power and train outages.

New 41st Street Bridge rendering.

Demolition of the bridge, which connects Mantua Avenue and Poplar Street over Amtrak railway, is part of the $10.8 million 41st Street Bridge replacement project. Starting Sunday night, May 1, the contractor, Loftus Construction, Inc., will begin to erect the structural steel for the new bridge. This work will also occur during overnight hours on Sunday through Thursday. Steel beam erection is expected to be completed by mid-June.

The new bridge will be a two-span, continuous structure with architectural concrete parapets and fencing, according to the Streets Department. The proposed roadway will include two travel lanes with wide shoulders and sidewalks, new street lighting, signing, line striping, ADA curb ramps, and enhanced safety features, such as the realignment of the Mantua Avenue and 41st Street intersection.

The new bridge is expected to open by the end of 2016.