A key connection between West Philly and Center City will be shut down for vehicular traffic starting Monday, Aug. 24, as PennDOT begins a major reconstruction of the Market Street Bridge.

The bridge, which stretches over the Schuylkill River, I-76, and regional rail lines between 23rd Street and Schuylkill Avenue, is slated to remain closed to drivers through October 2027 as part of a $150 million infrastructure project. While the full multi-phase project extends into spring 2029, the bridge closure itself is expected to last roughly 14 months.

Here is what local commuters, cyclists, and transit riders need to know about the closure:

Transit Disruptions:

SEPTA will detour six bus routes—the 31, 44, 49, 124, 125, and L1 Owl. Passengers should check SEPTA’s System Status before traveling, as detours will shift routes onto neighboring bridges.

Driver Detours:

Eastbound drivers coming from University City will be redirected via 30th Street to Chestnut Street. Westbound drivers heading out of Center City will be detoured via 23rd Street to Walnut Street. Full route mapping and traffic management details are available through Penn Public Safety.

Pedestrian & Bike Access:

Pedestrians will still be able to cross the bridge on a designated walkway throughout the project. Once completed, the bridge will feature a brand-new, two-way concrete-separated bike lane. Nearby Walnut Street between 22nd and 33rd streets is also slated for a parking-protected bike lane and resurfacing.

Highway Impact:

Drivers using I-76 underneath the bridge should expect periodic overnight and weekend lane closures during bridge deck demolition and beam placement.

I-76 closures and Market Street restrictions began last month in preparation for the bridge closure (see photo).

The historic 1932 bridge structure requires a full replacement of the span crossing the Schuylkill River Trail and CSX rail lines, along with structural repairs over the highway and Amtrak tracks. As part of this project, a brand-new, two-way concrete-separated bike lane will be added on the south side of the Market Street Bridge.

Additionally, as part of the overall project, PennDOT is resurfacing the nearby Walnut Street Bridge (between 22nd and 33rd streets) and adding a parking- and concrete-separated bike lane there as well.

PennDOT expects all final touch-ups and secondary project phases to wrap up by spring 2029.