In case you hadn’t noticed, the annual SEPTA trolley tunnel maintenance project, Trolley Tunnel Blitz, began on Friday night, which means all trolleys are being temporarily diverted to 40th and Market via 42nd and Spruce Streets. Passengers can transfer to the Market-Frankford line at no additional cost at 40th and Market to continue their travel. The “blitz” also includes trolley track repairs on Woodland Avenue near the trolley portal, and due to this project, a portion of Woodland Avenue, between Woodland Terrace and University Avenue, is closed to through traffic.

The trolley tunnel will stay closed throughout this week and is expected to reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19.

The annual SEPTA trolley tunnel maintenance project, the “Trolley Tunnel Blitz,” is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9 and will continue until Monday, Aug. 19 at 5 a.m., SEPTA has announced. For the duration of the project, which will include trolley track replacement, station upgrades, painting and cleaning, and other maintenance work, Trolley Routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the tunnel.

During the Trolley Tunnel Blitz, all trolleys will divert to 40th and Market Streets where passengers can transfer to the Market-Frankford line at no additional cost for service to/from Center City.  Continue Reading

The Chestnut Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River will close for renovation on Monday, Aug. 5. The bridge will be closed to all traffic – cars, pedestrians and bicycles – for approximately one year.

The closure will result in many changes in traffic pattern, volume and detours in the area, including public transportation. SEPTA buses 21 and 42 are detouring around the bridge to cross the Schuylkill on Market Street. Traffic congestion and travel delays should be anticipated during this time.  Continue Reading

PennDOT will conduct an inspection of the University Avenue Drawbridge between Civic Center Blvd. and Gray’s Ferry Avenue from Tuesday, June 25 to Thursday, June 27 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams has announced.

Due to the inspection, the four-lane bridge that crosses the Schuylkill River will be closed intermittently to all traffic, with four 15 to 30 minute openings on each day of the inspection. While traffic will be allowed to flow between openings, drivers and pedestrians should expect multiple, extended delays throughout the three-day inspection process.  Continue Reading

Photo by Hanbit Kwon.

In response to public interest in the giant sinkhole caused by a sewer line break at 43rd and Baltimore earlier this month, the Philadelphia Water Department’s in-house historian Adam Levine will do a presentation on Mill Creek and the sewer project on Tuesday, June 25. Updates on the sinkhole repair work at the intersection of 43rd and Baltimore, which has been closed to traffic since June 4th, will also be provided.

The event will be held at USciences’ McNeil Science and Technology Center (Room 145) at 600 South 43rd Street from 6:15 to approximately 8:30 p.m.  Continue Reading

It’s been more than a week since the large, nearly street-wide sinkhole opened up at the intersection of 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue as the result of a sewer line break. The sinkhole was not very visible on the surface but underneath the pavement it was around 400 square feet. Since last Tuesday, Water Department crews have been working to repair the street, but it may take another two to three weeks, according to PlanPhilly.com.

In the meantime, Baltimore Avenue between 42nd and 44th Streets remains closed to traffic. Buses continue to replace the Route 34 trolley on Baltimore Avenue, between 61st Street and 40th Street portal. Stay tuned for more updates.