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

The University Avenue drawbridge over the Schuylkill River will be temporarily closed tomorrow for maintenance. The following temporary restrictions are scheduled to be in effect from approximately 7  a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20.

• The University Avenue drawbridge will be closed to all traffic. No detours will be posted for this short duration closure. Alternate Schuylkill River crossings include Gray’s Ferry Avenue to the south of the project, the Schuylkill Expressway, and South Street Bridge to the north.
• Northbound University Avenue traffic closures will begin at Gray’s Ferry Avenue.
• Southbound Schuylkill Expressway traffic will be stopped at the westbound entrance.
• The eastbound Schuylkill Expressway ramp will remain open, however existing traffic on the ramp will not be permitted to travel southbound on University Avenue.
• Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will not be allowed.

The University Avenue Drawbridge over the Schuylkill River will be closed for maintenance work to all traffic from approximately 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26, according to an announcement by the Philadelphia Streets Department. Motorists are advised to use alternate Schuylkill River crossings, including Gray’s Ferry Avenue to the south and the Schuylkill Expressway and South Street Bridge to the north. Since this is a short-term closure, no detours will be posted in the area.

Here’s what you should expect during this temporary closure:

Northbound traffic on University Avenue will be stopped at Gray’s Ferry Avenue. Southbound traffic will be stopped at the entrance to the westbound Schuylkill Expressway. The eastbound Schuylkill Expressway ramp will remain open – but traffic exiting on this ramp will not be permitted to travel southbound on University Avenue. Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will also be impacted by this closure.

The four-lane bridge links University Avenue in West Philly with South 34th Street in the Grays Ferry section of South Philadelphia.

The University Avenue/34th Street Bridge over the Schuylkill River has reopened, according to a Traffic Advisory by Penn Division of Public Safety. The bridge, which is part of a common route to access Interstate 76, was closed for two weeks for repairs and opened one week ahead of the schedule.

As we reported earlier, the University Avenue/34th Street Bridge over the Schuylkill river has been closed for repairs since Jan. 2 for approximately three weeks. As it was expected the area near the bridge is congested and motorists are advised to take detours over Grays Ferry Avenue, Woodland Avenue and 38th Street.

Penn and city police are deploying additional overtime officers to assist motorists in congested areas and to assist with traffic control at some vital intersections. One of the problems that the police are dealing with during the bridge closure is illegal U-Turns from the Westbound I-76 South Street ramp to the Eastbound South I-76 South Street ramp. “U-turns on the South street bridge is both illegal and hazardous, and negatively impact the congestion,” reads a Traffic Advisory by Penn Public Safety.